Experiment Title:

Living Rituals: Testing Embedded Spatial Invitations for Pro-Social Behavior and Belonging

Hypothesis

Embedded, low-barrier invitations to contribute to collective rituals in a shared space (e.g., folding origami, stacking stones) will:

• Increase participation and engagement
• Enhance respect for the space (cleanliness, care)
• Deepen visitors' sense of belonging and emotional presence
• Foster pro-social spillover behavior (helping, contribution, collaboration)

Design Overview

Create two to three embedded ritual stations in a shared indoor or outdoor space. Each should include:

• A clear, poetic invitation or prompt
• A physical medium (origami paper, natural stones, fabric strips, etc.)
• A visible cumulative result (e.g., pile, hanging tree, nest, altar)

Run the experiment for 2–4 weeks, tracking behavior, emotional response, and any emergent uses of the installations.

Setup

📍 Station Ideas

• Origami Nest: “Fold a crane and add a wish to the nest. Each one carries a hope.”