Randall Collins

Theory 1

• Interaction ritual chains

• Interaction ritual chains are linked encounters through which emotional energy, symbols, and solidarity are carried forward and shape subsequent interactions.

• Mutual focus of attention:

• Mutual focus of attention occurs when participants attend to the same object or activity and recognise that the others are also attending to it.

• Emotional entrainment:

• Emotional entrainment is the synchronisation and mutual intensification of participants’ emotions and bodily rhythms during interaction

• Bodily co-presence:

• Bodily co-presence means people are physically together and affect one another through their presence.

• Group boundaries

• Group boundaries distinguish ritual participants from outsiders and establish who belongs to the encounter.

• Shared mood:

• A shared mood is a common emotional experience among participants that can intensify through their interaction.

• Ritual ingredients

• The four ritual ingredients are bodily co-presence, boundaries to outsiders, mutual focus of attention, and a shared mood.

• Ritual outcomes

• Successful interaction rituals generate group solidarity, individual emotional energy, shared symbols, and feelings of morality.

• Emotional energy:

• Emotional energy is the lasting confidence, enthusiasm, strength, and initiative individuals gain from successful interaction rituals.

• Group solidarity

• Group solidarity is the feeling of membership and connection generated among participants through successful rituals

• Shared symbols

• Shared symbols are objects, words, or gestures charged with collective feelings that represent the group and attract respect.

• Morality

• Morality is the feeling that loyalty to the group and respect for its symbols are right, while violating them is wrong.

• Formal rituals

• Formal rituals begin through recognised ceremonial procedures and can generate solidarity when participants develop shared attention and emotion.

• Natural rituals

• Natural rituals spontaneously generate mutual attention and emotional entrainment without requiring prescribed ceremonial procedures.

• Joint attention

• Joint attention is the coordination of attention toward a common object with awareness that attention is being shared.

• Storing solidarity in symbol

• Symbols preserve collective feelings beyond the original gathering and can reactivate them through later use and rituals.

• Micro–macro connection

• Large-scale social patterns emerge as face-to-face encounters link across time and space through people, emotional energy, and circulating symbols.