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Examining memory for ritualized gesture in complex causal sequences.

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Title: Examining memory for ritualized gesture in complex causal sequences.
Authors: Kapitány, R.1 rohankapitany@gmail.com, Kavanagh, C.1, Whitehouse, H.1, Nielsen, M.1
Source: Cognition. Dec2018, Vol. 181, p46-57. 12p.
Subject Terms: *Memory, *Evaluation research, *Body language, *Research methodology, *Research, *Comparative studies, Ritualization, Gesture, Statistical hypothesis testing, Social evolution, Rites & ceremonies, Psychology of movement
Abstract: Humans have created and maintained an exponentially large and sophisticated behavioral corpus over evolutionary time. In no small part this was achieved due to our tendency to imitate behaviours rather than to emulate outcomes. This tendency, however, can lead to inefficiency and redundancy in our behavioral repertoires. Drawing on evidence from multiple fields of psychology, we propose two novel competing hypotheses. The 'catalyst hypothesis' suggests that low (but not high) proportions of ritualized gesture in instrumental action sequences will improve subsequent recall of the entire action sequence (without itself enhancing the instrumental utility of the sequence). Conversely, the 'cost hypothesis' suggests that increasing proportions of ritualized gesture will impair recall, due to the introduction of cognitive load. The null hypothesis states that ritualized gestures are neither beneficial nor costly. In a pre-registered experiment, we presented participants with multiple versions of two complicated 2-min action sequences in which we varied the proportion of ritualized gesture. We then quantified the influence ritualized gesture had on recall for individuals gestures, overall outcomes, and described detail. We found clear evidence that high proportions of ritualized gestures impair recall for individual gestures and overall success, and weak evidence that low proportions increase overall success. At present, we may reject the null, but cannot rule out either of our competing hypotheses. We discuss potential implications for cultural evolution, and generate competing predictions that allow for adjudication between Ritual Modes theory (Whitehouse, 2004) and the 'Cognitive Resource Depletion' account of Religious Interaction (Schjoedt et al., 2013). All files (including data and syntax) are freely available at https://osf.io/spz68/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Cognition is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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DbLabel: Education Research Complete
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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  Data: Examining memory for ritualized gesture in complex causal sequences.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Cognition%22">Cognition</searchLink>. Dec2018, Vol. 181, p46-57. 12p.
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  Data: Humans have created and maintained an exponentially large and sophisticated behavioral corpus over evolutionary time. In no small part this was achieved due to our tendency to imitate behaviours rather than to emulate outcomes. This tendency, however, can lead to inefficiency and redundancy in our behavioral repertoires. Drawing on evidence from multiple fields of psychology, we propose two novel competing hypotheses. The 'catalyst hypothesis' suggests that low (but not high) proportions of ritualized gesture in instrumental action sequences will improve subsequent recall of the entire action sequence (without itself enhancing the instrumental utility of the sequence). Conversely, the 'cost hypothesis' suggests that increasing proportions of ritualized gesture will impair recall, due to the introduction of cognitive load. The null hypothesis states that ritualized gestures are neither beneficial nor costly. In a pre-registered experiment, we presented participants with multiple versions of two complicated 2-min action sequences in which we varied the proportion of ritualized gesture. We then quantified the influence ritualized gesture had on recall for individuals gestures, overall outcomes, and described detail. We found clear evidence that high proportions of ritualized gestures impair recall for individual gestures and overall success, and weak evidence that low proportions increase overall success. At present, we may reject the null, but cannot rule out either of our competing hypotheses. We discuss potential implications for cultural evolution, and generate competing predictions that allow for adjudication between Ritual Modes theory (Whitehouse, 2004) and the 'Cognitive Resource Depletion' account of Religious Interaction (Schjoedt et al., 2013). All files (including data and syntax) are freely available at https://osf.io/spz68/. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Cognition is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=132039655
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.cognition.2018.08.005
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 12
        StartPage: 46
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Memory
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Evaluation research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Body language
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      – SubjectFull: Research methodology
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      – SubjectFull: Research
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      – SubjectFull: Comparative studies
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Ritualization
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gesture
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Statistical hypothesis testing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social evolution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rites & ceremonies
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      – SubjectFull: Psychology of movement
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Examining memory for ritualized gesture in complex causal sequences.
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            NameFull: Kavanagh, C.
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              Text: Dec2018
              Type: published
              Y: 2018
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