People who reported transformative experiences at gatherings like Burning Man "felt more connected with all of humanity and are more willing to help distant strangers".
Photo by Curtis Simmons, Flickr: simmons_tx
"Throughout history, mass gatherings such as collective rituals, ceremonies, and pilgrimages have created intense social bonds and feelings of unity in human societies. But Yale psychologists wondered if modern day secular gatherings that emphasize creativity and community serve an even broader purpose.
"The research team studied people’s subjective experiences and social behavior at secular mass gatherings, such as the annual Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. They found that people who reported transformative experiences at the gatherings felt more connected with all of humanity and were more willing to help distant strangers, the researchers report May 27 in the journal Nature Communications.
“'We’ve long known that festivals, pilgrimages, and ceremonies make people feel more bonded with their own group,' said Daniel Yudkin, a postdoctoral researcher and first author of the paper. 'Here we show that experiences at secular mass gatherings also have the potential to expand the boundaries of moral concern beyond one’s own group.' ” - Bill Hathaway
This year's Burning Man commenced on Sunday, August 28 and will end on Monday, September 5.
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Article: ‘Transformative’ Effects of Mass Gatherings Like Burning Man are Lasting