ritual: primary mechanism of cooperation ritual is widespread in the animal kingdom where cautious...
TRANSCRIPT
Ritual: Primary mechanism of cooperation
• Ritual is widespread in the animal kingdom where cautious communication is required
• Deep evolutionary history
Primate social rituals
• As highly social creatures primates have a wealth of social rituals
Purposes of ritual:
• social signaling: Stotting among antelope; Thrice daily prayer among Orthodox Jews
• group cohesion: grooming in primates; initiation rites among traditional societies, modern social groups (fraternities); Coordinated actions produce greater with-in group cooperation.
• hazard avoidance: ritualized behaviors increase at social “stress” or transition points. Submission, appeasement, tolerance, reconciliation gestures among primates.
• Bell (1997, p. 160) If ritual had a voice it would say: “This is different, deliberate, and significant—pay attention!”
• It is the unparallel capacity to send and heed ritual’s message that sets humans apart from other animals
• Eventually for humans: Ritual imposes meaning on life, supersedes life itself (biology). Ex: Biology controls maturation but ritual defines adulthood. Biology controls birth, death, mating, illness, etc; but rituals imposes structure, meaning, legitimacy, etc. on all. Ritual is larger than life
Social rituals in traditional societies
• 3 types– Rituals of trust-building and reconciliation– Rituals of initiation– Shamanistic healing rituals– 3 points: models for the past; cognitively demanding; fitness
enhancing– Good analogy: graduation ceremony, ritual demands of larger
group vs. kin biased inclinations
Peacemaking and reconciliation
• Ammassalik drum match• Yanamamo truce ritual• Those more able to make peace
gained a fitness advantage through increased access to resources via reciprocal exchange alliances
Rituals of initiation• 70% of traditional societies have adolescent rites of initiation. Severity increases with the harshness
of living conditions• Those more able to endure demanding rituals gained a fitness advantage through status and prestige• Intense, high ordeal rituals lead to stronger emotional attachment to group; greater in-group
generosity
Shamanistic healing rituals
• Shamanism is ubiquitous among traditional societies
• Ritual healing practices involving ASC are effective for a range of maladies
Evolution of ritual
• Milestones:• 3mybp: birthing big-headed babies (from DeSilva, 2010)
Evolution of ritual
• Losing hair: 3mybp-1.2mybp• Host switch of body louse Pthirus from
gorilla to human (from Reed et al, 2007)• Mutation in gene melanocortin i
receptor (MCiR) • Making ‘dangerous’ handaxes: .5myp• Composite tools: .3mybp• Control of fire: 200,000• Trade, global migration: 70,000 ybp• Inter-group marriage• Increasing social differentiation –
emerging social norms
Red Ochre Rituals
• First appears in archaeological record 400-300ybp• Ubiquitous in female initiation rituals S. African
traditional societies • Female Cosmetics Coalition hypo – females
bonded together for resourcing of infants, first “true” rituals
• Encephalization: two steps, 700,000 and 200,000 ybp, Neanderthals later, 70,000ybp
• Second step critical for pair-bonding
Red ochre in Africa vs. Europe
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Homo sapiens
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Migrations and Seasonality