Early Childhood Precursors of Adolescent Initiation Ceremonies

Abstract

Based on an analysis of ethnographic data files for 182 societies it is demonstrated that where adolescent ceremonies are present, they are consistent with other socialization techniques applied in earlier childhood. Two of the most conspicuous features emphasized by both initiation ceremonies and prior socialization are social solidarity and sex differentiation. Initiation ceremonies tend to be present in societies that emphasize these traits in training their young children. While the initiation ceremony itself is a clear marker, defining different stages of social development, the messages it projects to the initiates and the observers are congruent with the traits inculcated in the initiates in their earlier years. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)