Dimitris Xygalatas

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.

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.

Absolutely. I tend to see rituals as social technologies. They are successful social technologies because they're able to harness all kinds of different mechanisms, the psychological mechanisms. So it is not just pain and suffering that they can recruit in order to make an occasion seem special. They can recruit things like emotional arousal. They can recruit things like sensory pageantry.

Absolutely. I tend to see rituals as social technologies. They are successful social technologies because they're able to harness all kinds of different mechanisms, the psychological mechanisms. So it is not just pain and suffering that they can recruit in order to make an occasion seem special. They can recruit things like emotional arousal. They can recruit things like sensory pageantry.

Absolutely. I tend to see rituals as social technologies. They are successful social technologies because they're able to harness all kinds of different mechanisms, the psychological mechanisms. So it is not just pain and suffering that they can recruit in order to make an occasion seem special. They can recruit things like emotional arousal. They can recruit things like sensory pageantry.

And that's what you see with holiday celebrations. They're bursting with pageantry. They're full of colors and smells and sometimes literally bells and whistles. So they stimulate all of your senses. And because the most important moments of our lives are related to extravagant ceremonies, weddings, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties.

And that's what you see with holiday celebrations. They're bursting with pageantry. They're full of colors and smells and sometimes literally bells and whistles. So they stimulate all of your senses. And because the most important moments of our lives are related to extravagant ceremonies, weddings, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties.

And that's what you see with holiday celebrations. They're bursting with pageantry. They're full of colors and smells and sometimes literally bells and whistles. So they stimulate all of your senses. And because the most important moments of our lives are related to extravagant ceremonies, weddings, graduation ceremonies, birthday parties.

Whenever we see an extravagant ceremony immediately in our brain, that signals that this is an important moment. And this is an important moment. This is a moment to pay attention to. This is a moment to look forward to. This is a moment to fully embrace.

Whenever we see an extravagant ceremony immediately in our brain, that signals that this is an important moment. And this is an important moment. This is a moment to pay attention to. This is a moment to look forward to. This is a moment to fully embrace.

Whenever we see an extravagant ceremony immediately in our brain, that signals that this is an important moment. And this is an important moment. This is a moment to pay attention to. This is a moment to look forward to. This is a moment to fully embrace.

The way I see it is that ritual has always been part of our nature and it's just as much a part of our nature today as it has always been. Sometimes we might get the sense that ritual is in decline just because in parts of the world, in the West in particular, we see that membership in at least the major religious organizations is declining.

The way I see it is that ritual has always been part of our nature and it's just as much a part of our nature today as it has always been. Sometimes we might get the sense that ritual is in decline just because in parts of the world, in the West in particular, we see that membership in at least the major religious organizations is declining.

The way I see it is that ritual has always been part of our nature and it's just as much a part of our nature today as it has always been. Sometimes we might get the sense that ritual is in decline just because in parts of the world, in the West in particular, we see that membership in at least the major religious organizations is declining.

But that is not to say that people are abandoning ritual altogether. In fact, what I see is that the more people

But that is not to say that people are abandoning ritual altogether. In fact, what I see is that the more people

But that is not to say that people are abandoning ritual altogether. In fact, what I see is that the more people

stop performing some of the more traditional rituals perhaps related to to the church in the american setting the more they seek the same kinds of experiences in other domains of life so you can find collective rituals for example in the context of musical concerts or sports stadiums or events like burning man or coachella You can find them in politics.

stop performing some of the more traditional rituals perhaps related to to the church in the american setting the more they seek the same kinds of experiences in other domains of life so you can find collective rituals for example in the context of musical concerts or sports stadiums or events like burning man or coachella You can find them in politics.

stop performing some of the more traditional rituals perhaps related to to the church in the american setting the more they seek the same kinds of experiences in other domains of life so you can find collective rituals for example in the context of musical concerts or sports stadiums or events like burning man or coachella You can find them in politics.