How Synchronized Movements Strengthen Social Bonds

Shared experiences play a vital role in fostering social cohesion. Engaging in activities like sharing stories over coffee, dancing together, or cheering at sports events helps unite individuals. Researchers at UConn are delving into another way humans connect: synchronous movement and chanting.

Mohammadamin Saraei, a graduate student in the Department of Psychological Sciences, highlights the prevalence of this phenomenon in various cultures and religions throughout history. Extensive research confirms that synchrony enhances social cohesion, fosters shared identity, encourages prosocial behavior, builds trust, and contributes to overall well-being.

Mechanisms Behind Synchrony

What facilitates this collective synchrony? Saraei, alongside co-authors Alexandra Paxton and Dimitris Xygalatas, shares their findings in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B. The team focused on synchrony during a religious ritual, known as Salat al Jama'ah, hosted at the UConn Islamic Center, where over 200 worshipers gathered for evening prayer.

To observe synchronous movements, the researchers outfitted participants with devices measuring heart rate, breathing, posture, and positioning throughout the prayer. Their study took place during Ramadan, a time of community prayer among Muslims. Saraei appreciates the Muslim students involved, acknowledging the challenges they faced while fasting for 14 hours each day.

During this ritual, worshipers gather for group prayer. Men line up behind the imam while women usually gather behind a partition, all facing the qibla, the direction of Mecca. An imam leads a cycle of structured prayer, which includes coordinated bowing and prostrations.

Findings on the Role of Leaders

The results illuminated the role of the leader in facilitating synchrony and its physiological effects, like the synchronization of participants' heart rates. Saraei emphasized the significance of effective leadership within communities. A good leader encourages growth, while a harmful one could cultivate toxicity.

The proximity of worshipers to the imam enhanced the synchrony effect. Participants are strongly advised to stand near the front during prayers. This arrangement, though not fully understood in religious terms, appears related to the synchrony measures observed.

"As you move closer to the center of synchrony, physiological connections strengthen. This creates a ripple effect among clustered worshipers," said Saraei. He attributed this ripple effect to auditory and visual stimuli during the gathering. Worshipers strategically look down, which allows them to utilize their peripheral vision to gauge the movement of neighbors.

Broader Implications of Synchrony

Saraei's research extends beyond religious practices. He notes that Xygalatas's group investigates synchrony in political contexts, such as chants during rallies or debates. Collective actions, like clapping or chanting, significantly impact social cohesion. For example, the enduring nature of soldiers marching builds bonds necessary for effective action, even if the practice is less relevant on modern battlefields.

Saraei is also examining synchronous prayer's health benefits, analyzing heart rate variability (HRV) during these rituals. Preliminary results show higher HRV during Islamic collective prayers, indicating stress reduction and overall well-being.

HRV correlates with stress levels, general health, and immune system function. He plans to investigate how participant numbers influence synchrony and the effects of virtual versus in-person experiences.

Recognizing the mechanisms of synchrony deepens our understanding of social interactions. Saraei emphasizes its fundamental role in everyday life, shaping our connections and experiences. "Once you recognize it, you see it woven throughout daily life," he concludes.

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