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

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