Sociology at a glance

Sociology of Funeral Service

The science of social groups and their effects on funeral practices and disposition. Begins with the initial call or arrangement conference and ends with final disposition.

Psychology of Funeral Service

Begins with the death (or impending death) and ends with the mourning process (resolution/acceptance)

Funeral Service

rites with the body present

Memorial Service

funeral rites with the body not present

Funeral Rite

any funeral event performed in a prescribed manner

Social Function

an event that allows individuals to gather as a community for sharing a common purpose.

Culture

the rules, ideas and beliefs shared by members of society of and for living and dying, which are learned directly or indirectly

Customs

social behavior as dictated by the tradition of the people

Norms

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

Mores

must-behaviors; the basic and important patterns of ideas and acts of a people which call for a strong reaction from the society if violated.

Taboos

a social prohibition of certain actions

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.

Laws

rules of action prescribed by an authority able to enforce its will.

Rules

specified methods of procedure

Symbols

an object or act that represents a belief or idea

Subculture

a division or smaller identifiable unit of culture having unique traits to itself

Cultural universal

common traits or patterns found in all cultures.

Ethnocentrism

the emotional attitude that one's own race, nation, group, or culture is superior to all others.

Culture shock

the feelings of disorientation, uncertainty, and even fear that people experience when they encounter unfamiliar cultural practices.

Cultural relativism

the emotional attitude that all cultures are pertinent.

Religion

a culturally entrenched pattern of behavior made up of:

1) sacred beliefs

2) emotional feelings accompanying the beliefs

3) overt conduct presumably implementing the beliefs and feelings.

Ceremony (Ritual)

an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite; the formal activities conducted on some solemn or important occasion

Rite

any event performed in a prescribed manner

Innovation

the process of introducing a new idea or object to a culture through discovery or invention

Patriarchal

a form of family government where the father or male possess power and the right of decision making.

Matriarchal

a form of family government where the mother or female possesses power and the right of decision making.

Egalitarian

male and female have equal rights, duties, and governing power

Patriarchal, matriarchal, and egalitarian

the systems of family governance

1. Announcement of the death

2. Care of the deceased

3. A method of disposition

4. Ceremony or ritual

5. Memorialization

Cultural Universals Regarding Death

Extended (joint) family

a household or family unit consisting of father and mother, all their children (except married daughters), their son's wives and children (except married daughters).

Nuclear family

a household or family unit consisting of two parents married to each other and their children, if any.

Modified extended family

a household or family unit created by related nuclear families and/or friendships

Single parent family

a family unit consisting of one adult and his or her children

Blended family

a household or family unit created by one male and one female and the children from their previous marriages and may include children from the present marriage.

Common-law marriage

a marriage recognized in some jurisdictions and based on the parties’ agreement to consider themselves married and sometimes based also on their cohabitation.

Extended (joint) family, nuclear family, modified extended family, single parent family, blended family, and common law marriage

The Family Structures in Society

Industrialization

the replacement of individual crafting of products by the manufacturing of goods utilizing mass production techniques

Urbanization

the change from rural to urban in character

Anonymity

a situation in which a person or entity is unknown. (Product of urbanization)

Bureaucratization

the creation of a system which governs through departments and subdivisions managed by sets of officials following an inflexible routine.

Industrialization, urbanization, anonymity, and bureaucratization

Changes Effecting Funeral Service

Contemporary

living or happening in the same period; belonging to or occurring in the present

Modern

characteristic of the present or recent times

Social stratification

categorization of people by money, prestige, and/or power; a ranking of social status (position) in groups such as upper, middle, and lower class.

Class

a social grouping in which members possess roughly equivalent culturally valued attributes and/or similar economic resources

Neo-localism

the movement of individuals or families from the area in which they were born.

Demographics

the statistical study of human populations with respect to their size, density, distribution, composition, and income.

Cohabitants

two unrelated adults sharing the same living quarters without being married

1. Social Stratification

2. Class

3. Neo-localism

4. Demographics

5. Cohabitants

Selected Contemporary Social Factors

1. Location of funeral rite and preparation of the deceased

2. Involvement and role of family and friends

3. Increased responsibility placed on funeral director (knowledge of social sciences, Counseling ability, risk avoidance, technology

Selected Modern Social Factors

1. Traditional

2. Non-traditional

3. Adaptive

4. Humanistic

5. Immediate/Direct Disposition (no rites)

Types of Funerals

Traditional

a funeral rite that follows a prescribed ritual or ceremony that may be dictated either by religious belief or social custom

Non-traditional

a funeral rite that deviates from the normal or prescribed circumstances of established custom.

Adaptive

a funeral rite that is adjusted to the needs and wants of those directly involved; and has been altered to suit the trends of the times

Humanistic

a funeral rite that is devoid of any religious connotation

Immediate/Direct Disposition (no rites)

disposition of human remains, without funeral rites before or at the time of disposition

Agrarian

dealing with agriculture, farm based. The original locale of the extended (joint) family system

Ethnicity

the cultural heritage or identity of a group, based on factors such as language or country of origin

Funeralization

the process involving all activities associated with the funeral rite, OR the process of planning and executing a service

Hospice

a program of palliative care for the terminally ill

Mobility

the state or quality of being mobile; the ability to move from place to place readily

Enculturation (socialization)

the method by which the social values are internalized and learned

Direct learning

the acquiring of the culture 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 his or her culture by observation of others in his or her society; informal learning

Diffusion

the process by which a cultural item spreads from group to group or society to society

Cultural assimilation

the process by which a person or group’s language and/or culture come to resemble those of another group.

Those born between the years 1909 and 1945

The Mature Generation

Those born between the years 1946 and 1964

The Baby Boomer Generation

Those born between the years 1965 and 1979

Generation X

Those born between the 1980 and 2002

Generation Y (The Millennials)

a. Loyal to employer, superior interpersonal skills

b. Believe promotion and raises should come from job tenure

c. Value timeliness and productivity

the Mature generation in the workplace

a. Faith in nation’s institutions, companies, & government

b. Demand quality and place it before speed or efficiency

c. Loyal customers

d. Rule followers

e. Believe standard options are fine, no need to customize

the Mature generation in the marketplace

a. Evaluate self and others based on work ethic

b. Work ethic measured in hours worked

c. Believe teamwork is critical to success

d. Relationship building is very important, and loyalty is expected from coworkers

the Baby Boomer generation in the workplace

a. Believe technology brings with it as many problems as it does solutions

b. Want products and services to be customized and made individual

c. Believe rules should be followed unless contrary to what they want, then they can be broken

d. Want products and services that will indicate success to their peers

e. Tend to be loyal, cautious customers

the Baby Boomers in the marketplace

a. Self-reliant

b. Want open communication regardless of position or tenure

c. Respect production over tenure

d. Value control of their time

Generation X in the workplace

a. Embrace technology

b. Individualistic

c. Media savvy

d. Research products & services prior to purchase

e. Skeptical and not swayed by trends

Generation X in the marketplace

a. Seek open communication, positive feedback and affirmation

b. Find it easy to work with someone of the mature generation

c. Search for a job that provides personal fulfillment

Generation Y in the workplace

a. Don’t want to be hurried

b. Loyal customers

c. Want to be like peers but with a unique twist

d. Values companies that possess an altruistic attitude

e. Want value in service

Generation Y in the marketplace