Introduction to Funeral Service

Thanatology  “the study of death and death-related phenomena” (Corr, Nabe, & Corr 1996)  Thanatos: Greek God of Death  Ology: the study/science of

Sociology  “the science of social groups; the processes that tend to maintain or change these forms of organizations and the relations between groups and individuals”

Mores and Folkways  Mores: “must-behavior; the basic and important patterns of ideas and acts of a people as related to treatment of the dead, which calls for a strong reaction from the society if violated”  Folkways: “behaviors which are construed as somewhat less compulsive than mores of the same society, and do not call for a strong reaction from the society if violated

Customs  “social behavior as dictated by the tradition of the people”

Common Beliefs in American Society  “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”  equality before the law  freedom of selection  common school education  decent burial

 Why should funeral service students study Thanatology and Sociology?

The American National Character  Family Structure  Religion  Government  Economics  Age  Educational Level  Mobility

Basic American Customs in Funeral Service Today  Funeral Home  Embalming  Viewing  Funeral Director  Credit  Disposition  Rites and Ceremonies

Cultural Universal  “like abstract patterns of and for living and dying, which are identifiable in all cultures”  announcement of the death  care of the deceased  method of disposition  ceremony or ritual  memorialization