Abstract
Over the past decade, there has been an increasing interest in the relationship between participation in collective gatherings and rituals and different important psychosocial variables and processes, such as social sharing of emotions, group cohesion, identity fusion, prosocial tendencies and behaviors, and well-being (e.g., Rimé, 2009; Xygalatas et al., 2013; Khan et al., 2015; Páez et al., 2015). These studies, coming from different lines of research, have proposed diverse explanatory mechanisms to explain the positive social and psychological effects of collective gatherings. In the present article, we focus on one of these mechanisms, known as collective effervescence, emotional communion, emotional entrainment, or perceived emotional synchrony (PES). First, we briefly discuss current conceptions of the emotional states and experience during collective gatherings and what they bring to the definition of PES. We close this point by proposing an integrative definition of PES. Second, structural validity of the original PES scale is examined. Third, incremental validity of PES is examined in two longitudinal studies, particularly with respect to well-being. Finally, we propose an integrative short form of the PES Scale, which measures antecedents and behavioral effects of collective effervescence.
Highlights
Perceived Emotional Synchrony and the Collective Gathering ExperienceIn this part, we examine different conceptions of the emotional experience lived by respondents during their participation in a group gathering that could help to elaborate our construct
For Durkheim, collective effervescence is a shared or group state of high emotional arousal related to intensification of emotions by social sharing, felt in religious and secular collective rituals, irrespective of their content, which empowers the individual
Sociology of collective emotions emphasizes that the experience felt during collective gatherings consists of a Perceived Emotional Synchrony in Collective Gatherings high mutually shared emotional arousal that emerges from all types of collective rituals; reinforces a sense of unison; and implies synchronization of emotional responses that, in turn, reinforces social cohesion (Collins, 2014; Von Scheve and Salmela, 2014)
Summary
Perceived Emotional Synchrony and the Collective Gathering ExperienceIn this part, we examine different conceptions of the emotional experience lived by respondents during their participation in a group gathering that could help to elaborate our construct. Social psychology approaches, related to social identity and self-categorization theory (SCT) measure the effervescence experience of crowd and demonstrations using positive emotions (Hopkins et al, 2016) These authors emphasize the association of the experience felt by participants in a collective gathering with collective identity and the cognitive basis of enhanced social cohesion. This conception is congruent with Durkheim’s ideas that collective gatherings can reinvigorate the individual Because they are gathered together, group members communicate in the same thought and action; they feel a sense of comfort and enjoyment – for instance, ceremonies of mourning restore self-confidence, purpose of life, and well-being (Moscovici, 1988; Durkheim, 1995). Other psychologists conceive the experience during collective gatherings as a positive emotional state but not limited to cognitive and social identification processes. Gabriel et al (2017) posit that the collective effervescence experience occurs when a collective activity provides a feeling of connection to others in the crowd, a sense of engagement with something bigger than the self, and/or a “sensation of sacredness.” Their state measure of collective effervescence (Gabriel et al, 2017) includes three items appraising connections to others (e.g., “I felt connected to others who were present at the event”), one item appraising shared emotions (e.g., “I felt as if most everyone there felt the same emotions”). and four items for sensation of sacredness (e.g., “I felt as if the event changed me in some way”)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
