Table 1.

Each row summarizes the different ritual types in terms of: the problem that the ritual addresses, the psychological resource being cultivated and how that resource is put to work to produce an end state that addresses the problem (the ritual work).

ritual type	example	problem	resource	ritual work: resource and product
1. communal recommitment	Easter, Fourth of July	social entropy	value commitment	RP → G → Group stability (read as: Ritual Participant(s) render resource (commitment to cultural values, previous column) to the Group producing Group stability (inhibits social entropy))
2. individual recommitment (doctrinal rituals)	regular worship service, regular corporate rituals	social entropy	value commitment	RP → G → Group stability
3. tension management	New Years, Mardi Gras	social entropy	acceptance of social order	RP → G → Group stability
4. traditional communal transitions (calendrical)	Harvest festival, summer solstice	future uncertainty (group)	goodwill of supernatural agent (SA); value commitment	RP (SA) → G → future confidence (read as: Supernatural Agent renders goodwill to Group producing greater confidence in future RP → G → future confidence
5. communal transitions (non-calendrical)	coronations, peace- war-making, renewal	future uncertainty (group)	goodwill of SA; value commitment	RP (SA) → G → future confidence RP → G → future confidence
6. personal transitions	birth, marriage, military discharge	future uncertainty (individual)	social support	G → RP → future confidence (read as: Group renders social support (resource) to Ritual Participants (individuals undergoing transition) producing greater confidence in future)
7. personal transition: initiation	fraternity, military, adulthood	future uncertainty (group)	goodwill of SA; commitment and competence	RP (SA) → G → future confidence RP → G → future confidence