THE RITES OF PASSAGE: IMPREGNABLE BEHAVIOURAL EPIGENETICS IN STRENGTHENING PERSONAL HEALTHINESS, SPIRITUAL AND CULTURAL VALUES

Abstract

Behavioural epigenetics is defined as the study of how epigenetic alterations induced by experience and environmental stress may affect animal (human) behaviour, which describes the epigenetic alterations caused by environmental enrichments. Environmental enrichment generally relates to the provision of environmental stimuli that promotes the expression of species-appropriate behaviour and mental activities. Until today, there is no conclusive determination on what kind of experience and environmental stress that affect human behaviour, and what kind of environmental enrichments facticity that induces epigenetic alterations. Vast definition of environmental and experience stress forces us to observe more complex yet substantial in nature in addition to biological processes, that is culture. We specifically determine a well-known cultural behaviour having been consistently conducted generation after generation by almost all cultural communities the world over: the rites of passage. By using qualitative comparative analysis (QCA) approach, we shall determine the purpose and enactment of the rites generally, and compare them to the case-study research in genetic phenomena. The aim of this paper is to find the interwoven connection of the rites of passage to genetic events as to how such rites may induce epigenetic alterations influencing behavioural epigenetics hence affording to strengthen individual healthiness, spiritual and cultural values. We may propose that the rites of passage are necessarily beyond spiritual practises, yet more to healthiness especially that related to the harmonization of individual’s genetic and epigenetic processes toward environment. Succinctly, using intersection study between social and life sciences, we expect to result in more comprehensive understanding about the subject matter observed.