Term
| Sociology for Funeral Service deals with the influences of |
|
Definition
1. Social structures,
2. Interrelationships,
3. Interactions on human thinking, feeling,
and behavior within the confines of funeral
service.
Sociology is that branch of social science that deals with group behavior patterns and the way people tend to behave in the way they are socially expected to behave.
Sociology in funeral service can be thought of as beginning with the arrangement conference and ending with the final disposition as opposed to psychology of funeral service that begins at the time of death (or anticipated death) and ends with the acceptance of death.
This course will deal with the effect of death on the family of the deceased and their response to that death |
|
|
Term
| This response is reflected in the family’s |
|
Definition
1. Attitudes
2. Reactions
3. Emotions
These responses can be translated into the type of merchandise they purchase and their basic social behaviors and needs.
The family faces these needs in the arrangement conference. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The science that deals with the various social groups in the world today. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
1. The internal organization and operation of
these social groups.
2. The ways that maintain or change these
organization.
3. The relationships between the social groups.
Funeral service sociology studies the funeral and disposition patterns of these groups. (Our study will be restricted to the United States) |
|
|
Term
Every family a funeral director serves is unique.
Each family has individual wants and needs.
Funeral directors must be responsive to all tangible and intangible requests.
Examples: |
|
Definition
1. Family requests that a favorite item be
buried with the deceased. (Tangible)
2. A request for a special poem or an open casket
at the graveside. (Intangible) |
|
|
Term
Many family needs and requests are directly based on their background or culture.
An individual’s culture often determines their |
|
Definition
1. Mores (must behaviors)
2. Folkways (informal practices)
3. Customs (social behaviors)
These behaviors and practices are learned or acquired directly or indirectly from the individual’s culture. |
|
|
Term
A family’s cultural and religious background may also determine their funeral customs as well.
Examples: |
|
Definition
Catholic families expect the F.D. to follow
traditions and regulations of the Catholic
Church including planning a rosary service,
use of a pall during the Mass, and use of
acolytes to assist the priest.
Orthodox Jewish families expect the F.D. to
notify the Chevra Kadisha to wash the body,
placing the body in a shroud, and the use of an
Aron casket. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
: A system of abstract patterns of and for both living and dying which are learned directly or indirectly; a unique and distinctive way of life inherited from a particular culture.
Direct learning usually comes from our parents and formal education.
Indirect learning comes from our cultural environment, including attitudes, manner of dress and ways of thinking, praying, talking, etc.
These cultural and social forces encompasses an individual’s fears, beliefs or customs concerning death , dying and funeralization.
These cultural patterns are created by the social group and imposed on every member of the group. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
An identifiable unit within a culture with their own unique and distinctive traits.
Members of subcultures still identify as members of the larger culture but have some ways and thoughts unique to themselves.
Example: Americans are a distinctive culture.
American subcultures might have
Mexican, German, or Italian influences
particular geographic regions within
the U.S. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In this environment, the traditional funeral stands out as a tribute to the__________affording an opportunity to recognize and remember the deceased. |
|
|
Term
Cultural Universals: Common traits found in every culture mankind has developed.
These cultural universals include |
|
Definition
Rules and regulations for orderly living
(government)
* Establishment of family (marriage)
* A response to the death of another
member of the culture (funeral rites)
Funeral rites are a means of fulfilling the need of disposition of the dead in a dignified manner. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
: The feeling that one’s culture is superior to others.
Every culture feels its funeral customs are the best response to death and may not understand or appreciate the response to death of another culture.
Example: The American custom of a traditional funeral with earth burial may not be approved by other cultures where cremation is the accepted practice. |
|
|
Term
| Funeral directors are required to |
|
Definition
to understand each culture’s values and provide a service that meets their needs.
Example: Being knowledgeable and respectful of the fraternal or religious services that may be held the night before a funeral and making sure all details are carefully carried out. |
|
|
Term
| Basic Terms of Funeral Service |
|
Definition
Funeral: Any type of rites where the body of the deceased is present.
Memorial Service: Any type of rites where the body of the deceased is not present.
Immediate Disposition: The disposition of the body without any form of funeral rite at that time.
Funeral Rite: Sociologists use this term as an all-inclusive term to describe either a funeral or a memorial service. |
|
|
Term
| Four Types of Funeral Rites Within a Culture |
|
Definition
1. Traditional Funeral Rite: Follows a
well-defined ritual or ceremony which is
based on either religious beliefs or the
social customs of the family involved.
The major religious groups all have
carefully prescribed funeral rites.
2. Adaptive Funeral Rite: A non-traditional
funeral rite that honors the life of the
deceased altered to suit the needs of the
family or the trends of the time.
Funeral directors have the responsibility to
conduct these services within the bounds of
good taste that reflect a respect for the
dead.
3.Humanistic Funeral Rite: Any type of funeral
that is held devoid of any religious connotation.
Might include a eulogy of the deceased and
favorite songs or poems with no reference to
religious thinking.
Oftentimes led by a family member or friend
instead of a clergyperson.
4. Primitive Funeral Rite: A rite that can be
identified with a pre-literate (before the
written word) society.
The society or tribe assumes the
responsibility of the disposition of the
remains in ancient ceremonies that may be
secret and viewed only by the tribal
members. |
|
|
Term
| Four Conclusions to the Sociological Response to Death |
|
Definition
1. The funeral rite itself is a social function
involving a group of people gathered
together to follow a pre-determined funeral
rite that honors the life of the deceased and
may reflect any of the four types of funeral
rites.
2. The funeral rite is a cultural universal
because some type of a response to death
can be found in every culture and
subculture.
Examples:
* A system of announcing the death of an
individual.
* The manner in which a society cares for
the dead.
* The method of final disposition of the dead.
3. To understand how a society or culture
buries its dead, the funeral director must
examine and understand the social
structure of that society.
4. Funeral rites reflect both modern (present
or recent times) and contemporary (of the
same time) tendencies.
Examples:
* Modern – Having a full-service funeral
facility.
* Contemporary – The increase in immediate disposition
and cremation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The process in which each individual learns about the accepted social values and activities important to his or her culture. (AKA Socialization)
This includes all the customs, mores, taboos and folkways of the culture or subculture at they relate to death and funeral rites.
These become a part of the cultural traits of the individual. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
The process in which each individual learns about the accepted social values and activities important to his or her culture. (AKA Socialization)
This includes all the customs, mores, taboos and folkways of the culture or subculture at they relate to death and funeral rites.
These become a part of the cultural traits of the individual. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
A social behavior concerning death as directed by the tradition of the people involved.
These customs outline the step by step procedures a family will follow.
Examples:
* Calling a funeral director to handle the
details of a funeral and to care for the
deceased.
* Having a visitation to view the deceased.
* Holding a funeral at the funeral home, church
or cemetery. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Morally binding or “must behaviors” that are the basic and important patterns of ideas and acts of a culture or society.
Society places a heavier emphasis on mores than on customs and calls for some kind of reaction if these “must behaviors” are not adhered to.
Example:
* Society requires basic respect and care for
the dead as a common act of human decency |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
: “Must behaviors” that tell individuals in a culture or society that certain actions are forbidden.
Examples:
* Touching a dead body.
* Embalming.
* Talking about death or the deceased. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
: “Must behaviors” that are required, not necessarily by a culture, but by the government.
Examples:
* A deceased person must be officially
pronounced dead by a physician, coroner,
or person similarly empowered by the state.
* Filing the death certificate.
* Obtaining a removal permit.
* Fulfilling the requirements for licensure. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
Entrenched behaviors which include sacred beliefs, emotional feelings about those beliefs and observable behaviors that implement those feelings and beliefs.
Examples:
* Making the sign of the cross.
* Kissing an Icon while passing by the casket.
* A liturgical order of service used for
funerals. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
An action performed during a funeral rite which has symbolic meaning to the participants or observers of the action.
Examples:
* The use of holy water and incense.
* The use of a pall. |
|
|
