Rituals Rituals Marriage and Family Interaction HPERF258

What Are Family Rituals? What Are Family Rituals? Family rituals are built around common symbols and symbolic actions. They are familiar to family members and this familiarity provides an emotional anchor. They provide a sense of safety and acceptance to members -- (Imber- Black & Roberts) Family rituals are built around common symbols and symbolic actions. They are familiar to family members and this familiarity provides an emotional anchor. They provide a sense of safety and acceptance to members -- (Imber- Black & Roberts)

What do rituals look like? Rituals are composed by metaphors, symbols and actions that are “packaged” in a highly condensed dramatic form to establish and maintain family identity Rituals are composed by metaphors, symbols and actions that are “packaged” in a highly condensed dramatic form to establish and maintain family identity Rituals are time-bounded and space- bounded, and provide a sense of psychological safety and membership in a group for participants. Rituals are time-bounded and space- bounded, and provide a sense of psychological safety and membership in a group for participants.

Recognizing rituals and ritual like activities Big R Big R Little r Little r Ritualized behavior Ritualized behavior

Similarities between rituals and routines The may have a similar appearance The may have a similar appearance Involve more than one family member, Involve more than one family member, Involve overt behavior, Involve overt behavior, Repetition of form and content, Repetition of form and content, There is continuity and change in both. There is continuity and change in both.

Differences between ritual and routines Differ in amount of emotion involved Differ in amount of emotion involved Differ in amount of symbolism Differ in amount of symbolism Behavior in rituals is relatively unique, unusual and extraordinary Behavior in rituals is relatively unique, unusual and extraordinary Rituals involve unique staging: preparation, enactment, and return to normal Rituals involve unique staging: preparation, enactment, and return to normal

In your small group Talk about family rituals and routines. Talk about family rituals and routines. What are some of the rituals in your family? What are some of the rituals in your family? “big R” “big R” Little ”r” Little ”r” How do you know the difference? How do you know the difference? Are there any rituals that have become routinized? Are there any rituals that have become routinized? How have you maintained genuine rituals in your family? How have you maintained genuine rituals in your family?

Sequence/staging of rituals Preparation Preparation Enactment Enactment Return to normal Return to normal

Typology of Rituals (Imber-Black, Roberts & Whiting, 1989) Underritualized Underritualized family neither celebrates or marks family changes nor join much in larger societal rituals family neither celebrates or marks family changes nor join much in larger societal rituals Rigidly ritualized Rigidly ritualized very prescribed behaviors, rituals tend to stay the same over time rather than evolving very prescribed behaviors, rituals tend to stay the same over time rather than evolving

Typology of Rituals (2) Skewed ritualization Skewed ritualization one side or aspect of family is emphasized over others one side or aspect of family is emphasized over others Hollow ritual as event, not process Hollow ritual as event, not process Rituals observed out of obligation, with little real meaning Rituals observed out of obligation, with little real meaning

Typology of Rituals (3) Ritual process interrupted or unable to be openly experienced Ritual process interrupted or unable to be openly experienced At time of sudden change or traumatic events, the family is unable to fully experience the whole ritual process. At time of sudden change or traumatic events, the family is unable to fully experience the whole ritual process. Flexibility to adapt rituals Flexibility to adapt rituals The ability to change rituals to better meet the needs/desires of family members. The ability to change rituals to better meet the needs/desires of family members.

Ritual Themes (Imber-Black & Roberts) Individual rituals can fit one, some, or all of these themes Individual rituals can fit one, some, or all of these themes Membership Membership Ability to participate in ritual indicates that one is a member of the group Ability to participate in ritual indicates that one is a member of the group E.g., Being able to participate in family photo after you are married to your partner, but not before E.g., Being able to participate in family photo after you are married to your partner, but not before

Ritual Themes (2) Identity Identity Your role in the ritual indicates your identity or a change in identity in the family Your role in the ritual indicates your identity or a change in identity in the family E.g., wedding ceremony E.g., wedding ceremony

Ritual Themes (3) Belief Expression and Negotiation Belief Expression and Negotiation Ritual may involve symbolic expression of beliefs Ritual may involve symbolic expression of beliefs E.g., At Thanksgiving, going around table and allowing everyone to go around and express thanks for being a member of the family; children’s prayers at bedtime E.g., At Thanksgiving, going around table and allowing everyone to go around and express thanks for being a member of the family; children’s prayers at bedtime Family is safe place to express and negotiate differences in beliefs Family is safe place to express and negotiate differences in beliefs

Ritual Themes (4) Celebration Celebration Family members come together to celebrate some aspect of the life of one or more members or of the family in general Family members come together to celebrate some aspect of the life of one or more members or of the family in general E.g., Mom and Dad’s 50 th wedding anniversary; birthdays E.g., Mom and Dad’s 50 th wedding anniversary; birthdays

Ritual Themes (5) Healing Healing Intended to produce personal and relational healing Intended to produce personal and relational healing Remembering and honoring the dead Remembering and honoring the dead Communal coming together to provide support and care for each other Communal coming together to provide support and care for each other

Designing a ritual (1) What are the purpose and goals of the ritual? What are the purpose and goals of the ritual? What are the basic elements of the ritual? What are the basic elements of the ritual? E.g., Openness to change, how often it should be repeated, who is involved E.g., Openness to change, how often it should be repeated, who is involved

Designing a ritual (2) What is the content? What is the content? Behaviors—who does what? Behaviors—who does what? Symbolism—what does it mean? Symbolism—what does it mean? Emotions—what is the emotional impact? How do family members feel about it? Emotions—what is the emotional impact? How do family members feel about it? In order to be effective, rituals must be affective In order to be effective, rituals must be affective

Small group discussion Design a family ritual using the information above and the information from reading #51 Design a family ritual using the information above and the information from reading #51

In your small group (cont.) Discuss the ritual themes. Can you identify any other themes of your own family’s routines? If you are a member of more than one family, how are rituals different in each? Discuss the ritual themes. Can you identify any other themes of your own family’s routines? If you are a member of more than one family, how are rituals different in each?

Final Thoughts on Lecture Material Describe how has your family has used ritual. Describe how has your family has used ritual. Remember to turn this in to your discussion leader. Remember to turn this in to your discussion leader.