Arts & Culture
Rituals in Strengthening Social Cohesion During Collective Crises
Quick fact
In a 2014 study, participants who engaged in a shared ritual (synchronized movements) showed increased pain tolerance and felt more connected to their group—showing that ritual can bond people even in artificial settings.
Why this is interesting
When a community faces a flood, a pandemic, or a war, people often gather to light candles, hold vigils, or share meals. Why does doing these gestures together make us feel stronger and more connected?
Read the full explanation
Understanding Rituals in Strengthening Social Cohesion During Collective Crises
Think of a ritual as a shared script that everyone knows by heart. When a crisis hits, our normal routines break down and the future feels uncertain. Rituals provide a comforting structure: they tell us what to do, when to do it, and how to show our feelings. When we participate together, we move, chant, or reflect in synchrony. That synchrony aligns our attention and our emotions—we feel what others feel. This creates a warm sense of togetherness and reminds us that we are part of a larger 'we.' For example, after a disaster, a community might hold a memorial service. Everyone stands, holds a moment of silence, and maybe sings a hymn. These acts are not just tradition; they are active ways of rebuilding the social fabric that the crisis has torn.
A deeper explanation
The underlying mechanism is what sociologist Émile Durkheim called 'collective effervescence.' During rituals, the group's shared action and emotion intensify to a point where individuals feel merged with the group. This emotional high is positive and self-reinforcing: the more you participate, the more you feel connected, and the more you want to participate again. Rituals also reinforce social norms and values by symbolically acting them out. In a crisis, they reassert what the community believes in—solidarity, care, mutual aid—and give people a sense of control and purpose. Neurobiologically, synchronized actions release endorphins and oxytocin, which reduce stress and increase trust. Thus, rituals are not just symbolic; they are a physiological and social feedback loop that builds resilience. This is why communities spontaneously create new rituals or adapt old ones during prolonged crises, like 'clap for carers' during the COVID-19 pandemic. They are not mere consolation; they are a functional tool for keeping a social group cohesive and functional under threat.