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 student 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