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Cited by 315Evolutionary Game Theory and CooperationEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorChild and Animal Learning Development

The essential role of ritual in the transmission and reinforcement of social norms.

Rossano, Matt J.·2012·Psychological Bulletin
DOI 10.1037/a0027038
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Abstract

Social norms are communally agreed upon, morally significant behavioral standards that are, at least in part, responsible for uniquely human forms of cooperation and social organization. This article summarizes evidence demonstrating that ritual and ritualized behaviors are essential to the transmission and reinforcement of social norms. Ritualized behaviors reliably signal an intentional mental state giving credibility to verbal expressions while emotionally binding people to each other and group-based values. Early ritualized infant-caregiver interactions and the family routines and rituals that emerge from them are primary mechanisms for transmitting social norms vertically from parent to offspring, while adult community rituals are a primary mechanism by which norms are reinforced horizontally within the community.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0027038

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  • Rituals are distinguished by physical features: rigid, formal, and repetitive action sequences.

    “First, rituals are distinguished by a specific set of physical features pertaining to the characteristic aspects of the individual actions that compose them, which tend to be structured in rigid, formal, and repetitive ways (Foster, Weigand, & Baines, 2006;Rossano, 2012;Tambiah, 1979).”

    From The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework (2018) · cites this paper as Rossano, 2012

  • Unlike instrumental or functional behaviors, often the goal of ritual is merely the correct execution of the actions themselves.

    “Indeed, unlike instrumental or functional behaviors, often the goal of ritual is merely the correct execution of the actions themselves (Rossano, 2012).”

    From The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework (2018) · cites this paper as Rossano, 2012

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Authors
Rossano, M. J.
Affiliations
Southeastern Louisiana University (US)
Corresponding author
Rossano, Matt J.
ORCID
Rossano, Matt J.
Venue
Psychological Bulletin
Publisher
American Psychological Association (APA)
Published
2012
Volume
138
Issue
3
Pages
529-549
ISSN
  • 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
  • 1939-1455
DOI
10.1037/a0027038
OpenAlex
W2015877084
Cited by
315
References
226
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 23 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 56 · 2019: 53 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 18 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 2
FWCI
33.76
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Child and Animal Learning Development
Keywords
ritual, social norms, norm transmission, ritualized behavior, caregiver-infant interaction, family rituals, intergenerational transmission, collective ritual, social bonding, cooperation, group values
MeSH terms
Animals, Ceremonial Behavior, Pan troglodytes, Communication, Cooperative Behavior, Emotions, Humans, Imitative Behavior, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Parent-Child Relations, Reinforcement, Psychology, Social Conformity, Psychological Distance, Infant Behavior, Intention, Trust

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