Abstract In contrast to the liveliness conjured by terms ‘migration’ and ‘mobilities’, death is associated with stillness immobility. Yet, just as animated experience of migration mobilities can be characterised hiatus, waiting even death, so too funerary-mourning rituals prompt a variety mobile practices. For example, dying may travel between home other places care; dead body typically moved p...

Therapeutic leave-taking rituals are a short-term strategic form of mourning therapy. These rituals consist of three phases: a) preparatory-in which the therapist explains how performing a ritual might help in taking leave of the deceased; b) reorganization-in which the client carries out certain tasks, such as writing daily entries in a 'continuous letter' to the deceased; and c) finalization-...

Long-established rituals in preexisting cultural groups have been linked to the cultural evolution of group cooperation. We tested the prediction that novel rituals-arbitrary hand and body gestures enacted in a stereotypical and repeated fashion-can inculcate intergroup bias in newly formed groups. In four experiments, participants practiced novel rituals at home for 1 week (Experiments 1, 2, a...

Three experiments explored the impact of mourning rituals after losses – of loved ones, lovers, and lotteries – on mitigating grief. Participants who were directed to reflect on past rituals or who were assigned to complete novel rituals after experiencing losses reported lower levels of grief. Increased feelings of control after rituals mediated the link between use of rituals and reduced grie...