RSIS Roundtable on “The Ritual Animal: exploring questions about ritual, human nature, and society"

How do we acquire rituals, conventions and norms in childhood? Why do people everywhere engage in rituals, and how do these practices foster cohesion and cooperation? Is the role of ritual changing in modern societies? This seminar explores these fundamental questions, delving into research findings from developmental psychology, anthropology, history, and archaeology. Understanding the nature and power of ritual may be crucial to creating more peaceful and sustainable futures. More details.