Open Access Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington
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Dance for the dead: Belief, anxiety, and social cohesion in the Japanese Bon Festival

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thesis
posted on 2021-12-08, 15:51 authored by Irving, Briar

This thesis aimed to investigate the role of belief in reducing anxiety and increasing social cohesion outcomes of collective ritual. To accomplish this, we developed a belief scale specific to the Japanese Bon Festival, based on ethnographic research and focus groups. We also present a modern ethnographic account of the Bon Festival, one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Japan. Belief in the spiritual background on the Bon Festival did not seem to have an effect on the anxiety and social cohesion outcomes of participation in the ritual. This suggests that the existence of meaning is enough and belief in it is not important for gaining these benefits.

History

Copyright Date

2020-01-01

Date of Award

2020-01-01

Publisher

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Rights License

Author Retains Copyright

Degree Discipline

Crosscultural Psychology

Degree Grantor

Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington

Degree Level

Masters

Degree Name

Master of Science

Victoria University of Wellington Unit

Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research

ANZSRC Type Of Activity code

1 PURE BASIC RESEARCH

Victoria University of Wellington Item Type

Awarded Research Masters Thesis

Language

en_NZ

Victoria University of Wellington School

School of Psychology

Advisors

Fischer, Ronald