Initiation ceremonies and rites of passage

Abstract

Initiation ceremonies for adolescents are investigated as means to structure the transition from childhood to adulthood within a given culture and to support adaptation during a challenging life phase. Concepts on the phases of initiation ceremonies, associated empirical findings, and examples, including the benefits and risks of rites, are reviewed. Classical ethnocentric anthropological work with a broad categorization of traditional vs. modern societies is acknowledged. During the past decades, however, worldwide societies have undergone substantial social change (e.g., growing globalization, migration, and digitalization), and cultural traditions such as initiation rites seem to mix cross-culturally and are not as recognized by adolescents as in earlier times—this will be illustrated by current research. Based on that, avenues to study rites more in depth in today's societies based on an inter- and poly-cultural study approach are discussed.