1. Introduction to Funeral Service

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

3. 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”

4. 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

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

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

7. Why should funeral service student study Thanatology and Sociology?

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

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

10. 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