title: The functions of ritual in social groups.
abstract: Ritual cognition builds upon social learning biases that may have become specialized for affiliation within social groups. The adaptive problems of group living required a means of identifying group members, ensuring commitment to the group, facilitating cooperation, and maintaining group cohesion. We discuss how ritual serves these social functions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology,The University of Texas at Austin,Austin,TX 78712.watsonjones@austin.utexas.edulegare@austin.utexas.eduhttp://www.rachelwatsonjones.comhttp://www.cristinelegare.com.
authors.forename: Rachel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Watson-Jones
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology,The University of Texas at Austin,Austin,TX 78712.watsonjones@austin.utexas.edulegare@austin.utexas.eduhttp://www.rachelwatsonjones.comhttp://www.cristinelegare.com.
authors.forename: Cristine H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Legare
mesh_terms: D002562:Ceremonial Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D003192:Compulsive Behavior; D006801:Humans; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012933:Social Identification