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Ritualization is Erik Erikson’s term for repeated structured interpersonal interactions that connect individuals with each other and with their societies in a vitalizing or numinous way. They are particularly important for establishing ego identity; they connect individuals at each life cycle psychosocial stage with the ideology of their culture. As well as serving initiating and integrating functions, they may also be commemorative. When they lack a vitalizing aspect, they degenerate into ritualism.
Introduction
According to Erikson, ritualizations are structured repeatable interactions between individuals that serve to further their psychosocial development by establishing or reinforcing connections to a society and its ideological goals. Ritualizations may be private or public ceremonies between two individuals, between an individual and a group, or between groups. Ritualizations acknowledge and support the mutuality between an individual, facing a series...
References
Erikson, E. H. (1977). Toys and reasons: Stages in the ritualization of experience. New York: W.W. Norton.
Erikson, E. H. (1982). The life cycle completed (extended version). New York: W.W. Norton.
Erikson, E. H., Erikson, J. M., & Kivnick, H. Q. (1986). Vital involvement in old age. New York: W.W. Norton.
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Marcia, J.E. (2016). Ritualization (Erikson). In: Zeigler-Hill, V., Shackelford, T. (eds) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1424-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-28099-8_1424-1
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