Fostering Interaction in a Strict Non-communal Group: A Case Study of Amish Visiting Practices

Frequent interaction among group members fosters affective commitment. Establishing a strong bond to the group is especially important for strict, high cost groups, and yet some such groups have beliefs that make frequent interaction difficult. We use the Old Order Amish as a case study to examine t...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Stein, Rachel E. (Author) ; Corcoran, Katie E. (Author) ; Colyer, Corey (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: [publisher not identified] [2019]
In: Interdisciplinary journal of research on religion
Year: 2019, Volume: 15, Pages: 1-23
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Amish / Visitation service / Religious community / Participation
IxTheo Classification:CH Christianity and Society
KBQ North America
KDH Christian sects
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Description
Summary:Frequent interaction among group members fosters affective commitment. Establishing a strong bond to the group is especially important for strict, high cost groups, and yet some such groups have beliefs that make frequent interaction difficult. We use the Old Order Amish as a case study to examine the use of visiting groups to foster interaction among the members of a non-communal, strict religious group for which regular interaction among all members is difficult. Our results indicate that the visiting group provides interaction and positive emotional experiences for the core group, the guests of the core group, and those who are visited. In addition to providing face to- face interaction with members who are otherwise isolated from the community, the activities of the visiting group are published via a scribe report in an Amish newspaper. As such, the entire community receives information on community members and benefits from the interactions of the visiting group.
ISSN:1556-3723
Contains:Enthalten in: Interdisciplinary journal of research on religion