2008/07/28 by Pascal Boyer, Pierre Liénard · 1 citation
Psychology · Neuroscience · #Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Disorders #Psychology of Moral and Emotional Judgment #Eating Disorders and Behaviors #Psychology #Intrusion #Vigilance (psychology) #Set (abstract data type) #Social psychology #Cognitive psychology
paper · doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2008.00592.x
openalex publication_date 2008/07/28 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/05/21
Ritualized behavior is characteristic of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), but it is also observed in other, nonclinical contexts such as children's routines and cultural ceremonies. Such behaviors are best understood with reference to a set of human vigilance–precaution systems in charge of monitoring potential danger and motivating the organism toward appropriate precautions. Ritualized behavior focuses attention on low-level representations of actions, probably leading to some measure of intrusion suppression. Cultural rituals too may be understood in this framework.