Dimitris Xygalatas

Those moments will very often include times of suffering. the time perhaps we climbed a mountain or the time a woman might have given birth, the time we survived a car accident, even some of these traumatic moments, we come to consider them significant in our personal narrative. We attribute meaning to them. And the fact that rituals involve

This type of suffering that, at least in the rituals that I study, is self-imposed. So the fact that you chose to do this ritual, the fact that you chose to put so much effort into it, also makes it a much more meaningful experience in our mind and in our memory.

This type of suffering that, at least in the rituals that I study, is self-imposed. So the fact that you chose to do this ritual, the fact that you chose to put so much effort into it, also makes it a much more meaningful experience in our mind and in our memory.

This type of suffering that, at least in the rituals that I study, is self-imposed. So the fact that you chose to do this ritual, the fact that you chose to put so much effort into it, also makes it a much more meaningful experience in our mind and in our memory.

That's what people say when I ask them why they perform their rituals. The most common answer I get is just what we do. So as human beings, we tend to do as the Romans do. This is very important for us because we are a hypersocial species. So most of the things we learn in life, they actually come from other people, whether it's through intentional instruction or just by observing them.

That's what people say when I ask them why they perform their rituals. The most common answer I get is just what we do. So as human beings, we tend to do as the Romans do. This is very important for us because we are a hypersocial species. So most of the things we learn in life, they actually come from other people, whether it's through intentional instruction or just by observing them.

That's what people say when I ask them why they perform their rituals. The most common answer I get is just what we do. So as human beings, we tend to do as the Romans do. This is very important for us because we are a hypersocial species. So most of the things we learn in life, they actually come from other people, whether it's through intentional instruction or just by observing them.

So we have evolved to to imitate what others around us do and especially imitate what people of our group do and particularly influential individuals in that group. So if everybody in your group does it, if the most prestigious individuals in your group do it, then you end up doing it as well. And by doing this, you also reap the benefits of doing it.

So we have evolved to to imitate what others around us do and especially imitate what people of our group do and particularly influential individuals in that group. So if everybody in your group does it, if the most prestigious individuals in your group do it, then you end up doing it as well. And by doing this, you also reap the benefits of doing it.

So we have evolved to to imitate what others around us do and especially imitate what people of our group do and particularly influential individuals in that group. So if everybody in your group does it, if the most prestigious individuals in your group do it, then you end up doing it as well. And by doing this, you also reap the benefits of doing it.

We see, for example, that people who engage in very painful rituals, that gives a boost in their reputation. So there are studies conducted in India by an anthropologist called Ellie Power, and she's finding that performing these very painful rituals just once a year is the equivalent of going to the temple every single week in terms of how you're perceived by others.

We see, for example, that people who engage in very painful rituals, that gives a boost in their reputation. So there are studies conducted in India by an anthropologist called Ellie Power, and she's finding that performing these very painful rituals just once a year is the equivalent of going to the temple every single week in terms of how you're perceived by others.

We see, for example, that people who engage in very painful rituals, that gives a boost in their reputation. So there are studies conducted in India by an anthropologist called Ellie Power, and she's finding that performing these very painful rituals just once a year is the equivalent of going to the temple every single week in terms of how you're perceived by others.

People who perform these rituals more frequently or who pay a higher price to perform them, they are seen as more trustworthy. They're better able to call upon others when they need things like borrowing money or help with taking care of their children and so on and so forth. So those social benefits are very real.

People who perform these rituals more frequently or who pay a higher price to perform them, they are seen as more trustworthy. They're better able to call upon others when they need things like borrowing money or help with taking care of their children and so on and so forth. So those social benefits are very real.

People who perform these rituals more frequently or who pay a higher price to perform them, they are seen as more trustworthy. They're better able to call upon others when they need things like borrowing money or help with taking care of their children and so on and so forth. So those social benefits are very real.

At least it seems that at a reflective conscious level, they are not why they do it. So people, even as people recognize that by taking part in that ritual, you feel bonded with each other. I don't think anybody has ever told me, I do this ritual to boost my status. Now, at the back of people's head, that might be there, of course.

At least it seems that at a reflective conscious level, they are not why they do it. So people, even as people recognize that by taking part in that ritual, you feel bonded with each other. I don't think anybody has ever told me, I do this ritual to boost my status. Now, at the back of people's head, that might be there, of course.

At least it seems that at a reflective conscious level, they are not why they do it. So people, even as people recognize that by taking part in that ritual, you feel bonded with each other. I don't think anybody has ever told me, I do this ritual to boost my status. Now, at the back of people's head, that might be there, of course.

And at some level, we're conscious that by virtue of engaging in those rituals, that changes the way people see us. But I don't think that's the primary motivation. I think the primary motivation is just to fit in.