Synchronized arousal between performers and related spectators in a fire-walking ritual

Collective rituals are present in all known societies, but their function is a matter of long-standing debates. Field observations suggest that they may enhance social cohesion and that their effects are not limited to those actively performing but affect the audience as well. Here we show physiological effects of synchronized arousal in a Spanish fire-walking ritual, between active participants and related spectators, but not participants and other members of the audience. We assessed arousal by heart rate dynamics and applied nonlinear mathematical analysis to heart rate data obtained from 38 participants. We compared synchronized arousal between fire-walkers and spectators. For this comparison, we used…

• NS
  National Science Foundation

  Awards: 0843133, 0642716, 0728743
• VS
  Velux Stiftung
• AU
  Aarhus Universitet
• NR
  National Research Foundation
• DG
  Danmarks Grundforskningsfond
• MD
  Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia e Inovação