Music and inter-subjective coordination in ritualized behavior

LANG, Martin. Music and inter-subjective coordination in ritualized behavior. In Explaining religion : methods, theory & experiment, Thessaloniki, 22-24 November 2012. 2012.

Basic information

Original name

Music and inter-subjective coordination in ritualized behavior

Authors

LANG, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Explaining religion : methods, theory & experiment, Thessaloniki, 22-24 November 2012, 2012

---

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Prezentace na konferencích

Field of Study

60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Country of publisher

Greece

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/12:00062982

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

cooperation; motor coordination; music; rhythm; ritual

Tags

rivok

---

Abstract

V originále

In 1912, Durkheim defined rituals as "ways of acting that are generated only within assembled groups and are meant to stimulate and sustain or recreate certain mental states in these groups." After 100 years, due to technological advancement, we can better understand what these mental states are and how they are evoked. Moreover, we can investigate how different ritual behaviors affect our evolved brains. Through ritualized behavior, among others, close ties are formed between participating members. This is demonstrated by studies in which collective rituals are shown to enhance cooperative behavior (e.g. Ruffle & Sosis, 2007; Sosis & Handwerker, 2011; Xygalatas et al., 2011). This study is aimed to identify one of the possible aspects of ritualized behavior which have these effect, i.e. a rhythmic beat. Rhythmic beat is known to promote synchronous and coordinated behavior (dancing, rowing etc.), and is a universal feature of many rituals (Fitch, 2006; Kirschner & Tomasello). However, very little is yet known about after effects of rhythm exposure, especially on human cooperation. We propose, that exposure to rhythm should support performance in joint tasks and possibly induce feelings of self-other overlap. Through investigations into the role of music in rituals, we hope to identify how rhythm facilitates these overlapping self-other representations.

---

Links

EE2.3.20.0048, research and development project

Name: Laboratoř pro experimentální výzkum náboženství