Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental
actions

J 2021

Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions

XYGALATAS, Dimitris, Peter MAŇO and Gabriela BARANOWSKI PINTO

Basic information

Original name

Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions

Authors

XYGALATAS, Dimitris (300 Greece), Peter MAŇO (703 Slovakia, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Gabriela BARANOWSKI PINTO (76 Brazil)

Edition

Cognition, Elsevier B.V. 2021, 0010-0277

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

60304 Religious studies

Country of publisher

Netherlands

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 4.011

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/21:00121867

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104823

UT WoS

000684293400010

Keywords in English

Basketball; Sports; Ritual; Ritualization; Superstition; Causal reasoning

Abstract

V originále

Across all cultures, people frequently engage in ritualized (non-instrumental) behaviors. How do those causally opaque actions affect perceptions of causal efficacy? Using real-life stimuli extracted from NCAA basketball games, we asked fans, players of the game, and subjects naive to the game to predict the outcome of free throw attempts. We found that the performance of personal pre-shot rituals increased the perception of shot efficacy irrespective of subjects' level of knowledge of and involvement in the game. Those effects became stronger when the score was less favorable for the shooter's team. Our findings suggest that even in non-religious contexts, people make intuitive judgements about ritual efficacy, and that those judgements are sensitive to ecological factors. The implications of those biases extend beyond sports, to various domains of public action, such as religion, courtrooms, college life, and political events.

Links

MUNI/A/1444/2020, interní kód MU

Name: Evoluční a kognitivní výzkum náboženství (Acronym: EVAKON)

Investor: Masaryk University

Citovat

XYGALATAS, Dimitris, Peter MAŇO and Gabriela BARANOWSKI PINTO. Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions. Cognition. Elsevier B.V., 2021, vol. 215, June, p. 1-6. ISSN 0010-0277. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104823.

@article{1780080,
   author = {Xygalatas, Dimitris and Maňo, Peter and Baranowski Pinto, Gabriela},
   article_number = {June},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104823},
   keywords = {Basketball; Sports; Ritual; Ritualization; Superstition; Causal reasoning},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {0010-0277},
   journal = {Cognition},
   title = {Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027721002420?dgcid=coauthor#!},
   volume = {215},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1780080
AU  - Xygalatas, Dimitris - Maňo, Peter - Baranowski Pinto, Gabriela
PY  - 2021
TI  - Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions
JF  - Cognition
VL  - 215
IS  - June
SP  - 1-6
EP  - 1-6
PB  - Elsevier B.V.
SN  - 00100277
KW  - Basketball
KW  - Sports
KW  - Ritual
KW  - Ritualization
KW  - Superstition
KW  - Causal reasoning
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010027721002420?dgcid=coauthor#!
N2  - Across all cultures, people frequently engage in ritualized (non-instrumental) behaviors. How do those causally opaque actions affect perceptions of causal efficacy? Using real-life stimuli extracted from NCAA basketball games, we asked fans, players of the game, and subjects naive to the game to predict the outcome of free throw attempts. We found that the performance of personal pre-shot rituals increased the perception of shot efficacy irrespective of subjects' level of knowledge of and involvement in the game. Those effects became stronger when the score was less favorable for the shooter's team. Our findings suggest that even in non-religious contexts, people make intuitive judgements about ritual efficacy, and that those judgements are sensitive to ecological factors. The implications of those biases extend beyond sports, to various domains of public action, such as religion, courtrooms, college life, and political events.
ER  -

XYGALATAS, Dimitris, Peter MAŇO and Gabriela BARANOWSKI PINTO. Ritualization increases the perceived efficacy of instrumental actions. \textit{Cognition}. Elsevier B.V., 2021, vol.~215, June, p.~1-6. ISSN~0010-0277. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2021.104823.

Detailed Information on Publication Record