Managing Rituals MFHD 160 Dr. Day’s class

Routines vs. Rituals Similarities 1. Rituals and routines both always involve more than one member of a family. 2. They both have overt or visible behavior or action. Thus, just thinking about something is not ritual or routine.

Routines vs. Rituals Similarities 3. There is repetition in the form and in the content of what is done. The form refers to how something is done and the content refers to what is done. Some rituals are repeated many times by the same family members, and some are just experienced once in the lifetime of a family member, but they are repeated by other individuals.

Routines vs. Rituals Similarities 4. There is morphostasis and morphogenesis in all of them. This means they all have some continuity over time, but they also all evolve and change over time as individuals and families develop and as the external environment of families changes

Routine or Ritual?

Routines vs. Rituals Differences 1. They differ in the amount of emotion that is involved. 2. They differ in the amount of symbolism. 3. They differ in how ordinary vs. extraordinary their behaviors are.

Routines vs. Rituals Differences 4. They differ in the preparation for the event and the follow-up activities. "Ritual is not just the ceremony or actual performance, but the whole process of preparing for it, experiencing it, and reintegration back into everyday life."

Thanksgiving Example

Rituals are not automatically useful or healthy. Some ideas for families to keep in mind as they determine their rituals: MMMModerate ritualization  underritualization  overritualization DDDDistinctive KKKKeep ritual separate from family problem AAAAbuse, alcoholism, etc. –agree not to do these things during rituals

Developmentally appropriate Morphostasis and Morphogenesis Young children vs. adolescents

Useful guidelines, continued  Avoid inappropriate use of rituals and routines  To exert control over children, preventing individuality  Perpetuate problems (cross-generational alliances, prevent independence, etc.)  Adapting to some family members, excluding others

Deliberately Creating or Modifying Rituals 3 Concerns:  Goals: the purposes or objectives -Rituals are “right brain” oriented (meaning vague impressions, images, and metaphors are sometimes enough.) There may be more than one goal. -Rituals are “right brain” oriented (meaning vague impressions, images, and metaphors are sometimes enough.) There may be more than one goal.  Form: how the rituals are carried out -Will rituals be open or closed? Is the ritual rigid or flexible? -Will rituals be open or closed? Is the ritual rigid or flexible?  Content : what is symbolized and what the behaviors are  Repetition : this would be the frequency of the ritual. -Does it happen once a day (family prayer), once a year (birthday party), or once in a lifetime (funeral of a spouse)?