Dance and social bonding: synchrony and the endogenous opioid system

Thesis

Dance – movement to music – is a ubiquitous and ancient human activity, which may serve important adaptive functions. In this thesis I focus on the suggestion that dance may encourage social bonding amongst co-actors by stimulating the production of endorphins in the Endogenous Opioid System (EOS).

Studies have demonstrated that performing similar movements in a predictable, rhythmic fashion makes dyads feel more socially close, likely due to a merged sense of ‘self’ and ‘other’. S...

Expand abstract

Authors: Tarr, B

• Type of award: DPhil
• Level of award: Doctoral
• Awarding institution: University of Oxford
• Language: English
• Keywords: endogenous opioids; dance; synchrony; social bonding
• Subjects: Cognitive and evolutionary anthropology; Psychology, Experimental