The Impact of Ritual on Child Cognition

In this book, Veronika Rybanska explores how ritual participation affects the cognitive abilities of children. Rybanska argues that, far from being a simple matter of mindless copying, ritual participation in childhood requires rigorous computation by cognitive mechanisms. In turn, this computation can improve a child''s ''executive functioning'': a set of cognitive skills that are essential for successful cognitive, social and psychological development. After providing a critique of existing literature on religion and ritual, Rybanska presents a new interdisciplinary approach that draws from anthropology, psychology and cognitive neuroscience. Using cross-cultural examples, including a comparison between Melanesian culture and Western culture, Rybanska shows that some of the most socially important effects of rituals seem to be universal. The implications of this research suggest that we should rethink multiple aspects of child-rearing and educational policy, and shows that the presence of some form of ritual during childhood could have positive evolutionary benefits.>

Product details

• Authors: Veronika Rybanska, Veronika (University of Agder Rybanska, RYBANSKA VERONIKA
• Assisted by: D. Jason Slone (Editor), Donald Wiebe (Editor)
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.01.2020
• EAN: 9781350108912
• ISBN: 978-1-350-10891-2
• No. of pages: 216
• Series: Scientific Studies of Religion; Scientific Studies of Religion: Inquiry and Explanation
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Psychology > Applied psychology; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Religion: general, reference works; SOCIAL SCIENCE / Sociology of Religion, PSYCHOLOGY / Developmental / Child, RELIGION / Religion & Science, RELIGION / Psychology of Religion, Child & developmental psychology, Cognition & cognitive psychology, Child, developmental and lifespan psychology, Cognition and cognitive psychology, Religious life and practice, Religion and science, Religion & science, Religious life & practice