Editing Xygalatas 2013 (section)

===Background===

This study took place in Mauritius, because it is multicultural and the citizens frequently negotiate between parochial ethnic-religious and inclusive national identities.

They examined two rituals: one, a low-ordeal ritual involving singing and collective prayer (Thaipusam), the other a high-ordeal ritual involving body piercing with multiple needles and skewers, carrying bamboo structures, dragging carts attached by hooks to the skin for over 4 hours before climbing a mountain barefoot (Kavadi).

The authors predicted that higher ritual intensity would lead to greater generosity for both performers and observers.

The authors also predicted an effect of ritual intensity on social identification