Culture and Cognition: The Psychology of Ritual

Rituals are central to the most meaningful traditions and cultural practices around the world whether through religion, business, politics, education, athletics, or the military. A ritual is a predefined sequence characterized by rigidity, formality, and repetition that is embedded in a larger system of symbolism and meaning (Hobson, Schroeder, Risen, Xygalatas, & Inzlicht, 2017). What mechanisms drive this universal aspect of human behavior, and what are the psychological consequences of engaging in rituals?

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

When Alterations are Violations: Moral Outrage and Punishment in Response to (Even Minor) Alterations to Rituals
Stein, D. H., Schroeder, J., Hobson, N. M., Gino, F., & Norton, M. I. (in press). When alterations are violations: Moral outrage and punishment in response to (even minor) alterations to rituals. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Work Group Rituals Enhance The Meaning of Work
Kim, T., Sezer, O., Schroeder, J., Risen, J., Gino, F., & Norton, M.I. (2021). Work group rituals enhance the meaning of work. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 165, 197-212.

A Sacred Commitment: How Rituals Promote Group Survival
Stein, D. H., Hobson, N. M., & Schroeder, J. (2021). A sacred commitment: How rituals promote group survival. Current Opinion in Psychology, 40, 114-120.

Handshaking Promotes Dealmaking by Signaling Cooperative Intent
Schroeder, J., Risen, J.L., Gino, F. & Norton, M.I. (2019). Handshaking promotes dealmaking by signaling cooperative intent. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116, 743-768.

Enacting Rituals to Improve Self-Control
Tian, D., Schroeder, J., Haubl, G., Risen, J.L., Norton, M.I., & Gino, F. (2018). Enacting rituals to improve self-control. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 114, 851-876.

The Psychology of Rituals: An Integrative Review and Process-Based Framework
Hobson, N.M., Schroeder, J., Risen, J.L., Xygalatas, D., & Inzlicht, M. (2018). The psychology of rituals: An integrative review and process-based framework. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 22, 260-284.

Don’t Stop Believing: Rituals Improve Performance by Decreasing Anxiety
Brooks, A.W., Schroeder, J., Risen, J.L., Gino, F., Galinsky, A., Norton, M.I., & Schweitzer, M.E. (2016). Don’t stop believing: Rituals improve performance by decreasing anxiety. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 137, 71-85.