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Ritualization in the animal world: How do animals evolve wonderful "ritual behaviors"?
The concept of ritualization refers to the attribution of cultural, social or religious meaning to some behaviors or events that originally had no communicative meaning. This perspective highlights how everyday actions can transform into rituals with deeper meaning, often performed within a cultural or religious context. In these rituals, the repetitive, symbolic, and normative behaviors carry the religious or cultural meaning of a specific community, thereby promoting social unity, transmitting cultural knowledge, and regulating emotions.
The history of ritualization
The concept of ritualization was first proposed by Edmund Selous in 1901 and further established by Julian Huxley in 1914. As time goes by, the research scope of ritualization continues to expand, including ethology, anthropology, psychology, sociology, cognitive science and other fields. In ethology, ritualization refers to the evolutionary process of transforming non-communicative behaviors into communicative behaviors. Nico Chimburg expanded the concept of ritualization in his 1951 essay "Studies on Instincts" to emphasize how certain animal behaviors become more effective means of communication through a process of selection and refinement.
The Ritualization of Non-Human Animals
Ritualized behaviors often occur in highly stereotyped forms within a given species and do not rely on any direct physiological meaning. This phenomenon is seen in both non-human animals and humans. For example, Konrad Lorenz studied ritualized behavior in animals such as gray geese and found that it was important in animal development. He found that when gray geese saw eggs outside the nest, they would perform a reflex action to retrieve the eggs, and water shrews also showed repeated behaviors in the same situation.
"Ritualization is behavior that does not rely on direct physiological meaning and occurs in a highly stereotyped manner in a specific species."
Human Ritualization
Ritualized function
Previous research has pointed out that ritualization serves several main functions:
- Social Cohesion: Ritualization promotes social cohesion and strengthens relationships between people. Through shared rituals, participants develop a sense of belonging and community, thereby enhancing the stability of the overall society.
- Cultural inheritance: Ritualization helps to transmit cultural knowledge, values and traditions, helping to maintain cultural heritage and maintain a connection to the past.
- Emotional Expression and Regulation:Rituals provide a structured way to express and regulate emotions, allowing individuals to effectively handle complex emotions during major life events or turning points.
Link functions to documentation
In 1912, Emile Durkheim theorized the distinction of social cohesion in his book "Elementary Forms of Religious Life". He believed that rituals serve as the glue that unites society and strengthens members' shared sense of identity and values. There are fundamental differences in structure and function between traditional society and modern society, which highlights the significance of ritualization. Unlike modern societies, mechanical cohesion in traditional societies relies on shared beliefs and values among members, and deviating from them is considered a sin. These rituals can protect the stability of society and limit individual deviant behavior.
“Ritualization is key to maintaining mechanical cohesion, reinforcing existing social norms through shared rituals.”
Structural Ritualization Theory
Ritualization is closely related to the work of Catherine Bell, who took a less functionalist perspective. She incorporates Pierre Bourdieu's practice theory into her discussion of ritualization, providing a new perspective on ritualization.
Future Insights
Ritualization is the crucial process of transforming ordinary actions, behaviors, and events into rituals imbued with cultural, social, or religious meaning. Understanding the concept of ritualization and its multiple functions can provide insight into human social and cultural practices. Future research could expand the scope of ritualization research by delving deeper into the psychological and physiological responses and interactions involved in this process. Will the ritual behaviors of animals inspire humans to think more deeply about their own culture?
