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Non-instrumental actions can communicate roles and relationships, not just rituals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 November 2022

Ashley J. Thomas Open the ORCID record for Ashley J. Thomas [Opens in a new window] ,
Setayesh Radkani Open the ORCID record for Setayesh Radkani [Opens in a new window]  and
Michelle S. Hung Open the ORCID record for Michelle S. Hung [Opens in a new window]
Ashley J. Thomas
Affiliation:
Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA ajthomas@mit.edu radkani@mit.edu; michl@mit.edu ashleyjthomas.com
Setayesh Radkani
Affiliation:
Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA ajthomas@mit.edu radkani@mit.edu; michl@mit.edu ashleyjthomas.com
Michelle S. Hung
Affiliation:
Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA ajthomas@mit.edu radkani@mit.edu; michl@mit.edu ashleyjthomas.com
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Abstract

Actions that do not have instrumental goals can communicate social goals that are not rituals. Many non-instrumental actions such as bowing or kissing communicate a commitment to or roles in dyadic relationships. What is unclear is when people understand such actions in terms of ritual and when they understand them in terms of relationships.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 45 , 2022 , e269
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press

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