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Download fileDance for the dead: Belief, anxiety, and social cohesion in the Japanese Bon Festival
thesis
posted on 2021-12-08, 15:51 authored by Irving, BriarThis 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
2020-01-01Date of Award
2020-01-01Publisher
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of WellingtonRights License
Author Retains CopyrightDegree Discipline
Crosscultural PsychologyDegree Grantor
Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of WellingtonDegree Level
MastersDegree Name
Master of ScienceVictoria University of Wellington Unit
Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural ResearchANZSRC Type Of Activity code
1 PURE BASIC RESEARCHVictoria University of Wellington Item Type
Awarded Research Masters ThesisLanguage
en_NZVictoria University of Wellington School
School of PsychologyAdvisors
Fischer, RonaldUsage metrics
Keywords
bon festivalritualanxietysocial cohesionbeliefSchool: School of PsychologyUnit: Centre for Applied Cross-Cultural Research170199 Psychology not elsewhere classified170111 Psychology of ReligionDegree Discipline: Crosscultural PsychologyDegree Level: MastersDegree Name: Master of SciencePsychology of ReligionPsychology not elsewhere classified