Introduction to Thanatology

Sociology

The systemic study of human and social interaction and social groups.

Society

A group of persons forming a single community with some interests in common.

Culture

The rules, ideas, and beliefs shared by members of society, which are learned directly or indirectly.

Direct Learning

The acquiring of the cultures by a person through deliberate instruction by other members of that society; formal learning.

Indirect Learning

A process by which a person learns the norms of their culture by observation of others in their society; informal learning.

Why do we study subcultures?

We study subcultures because our society is so diverse, it is difficult to study a broad "American culture."

Subculture

A division or smaller identifiable unit of a culture having unique traits to itself. Examples include professions (the funeral industry) and ethnicity.

Thanatology

From "thanatos, the Greek word for death - it is the study of dying, death, and bereavement. This study was born in the United States in the 1950s/60s and is a blend of sociology, psychology, anthropology, religion, and other disciplines.

Sociology is concerned with . . .

The culture of the living, way of life for society, and the understanding of how a society "lives."

Thanatology is concerned with . . .

The culture of dying, way of death for a society, and the understanding of how a society "dies" or experiences death, grief, and funerals.

What is the purpose of the funeral service?

1. The funeral rite is a social function - an event that allows individuals to gather as a community for sharing a common purpose.
2. The funeral is a cultural universal - common traits or patterns found in all cultures; exist due to human limitations
-Announcement of death
-care of body
-method of disposition
-ceremony or ritual
-memorialization

Norms

A group held belief about how members should behave in a given context.

Folkway

Social customs - dictated by tradition - that are less compulsive than ores, do not call for a strong reaction from society.

Mores

Must behaviors; basic and important patterns of ideas and acts as related to treatment of the dead; call for a strong reaction from society if violated. Includes Taboos - a social prohibition of certain actions; must-not behaviors.

Laws

Rules (specified methods of procedure) of action prescribed by an authority able to enforce its will.

Ethnocentrism

The emotional attitude that one's own group (nation, race, culture, etc.) is superior to all others.

Cultural Relativism

The emotional attitude that all cultures are pertinent (applicable or relevant).