Fostering group excitement and a feeling of camaraderie within university premises
College students seeking a sense of belonging and increased mental well-being may find it in the unexpected corners of their campuses. Research suggests that a shared emotional experience – referred to as collective effervescence – can provide a primal human need for social connection, a sense of meaning, and a boost in overall well-being, even outside the context of close relationships.
Developed by sociologist Émile Durkheim, collective effervescence refers to the surge of energy and shared emotional connection that occurs during collective experiences. This can happen during concerts, protests, or sporting events, and even in more mundane situations like waiting in line or chatting before class.
Gabriel Morales, a professor of psychology at The State University of New York at Buffalo and an expert on collective effervescence, explains that this phenomenon consists of two components: a sense of connection to others and a feeling that something sacred or extraordinary is happening. Both of these elements serve important human needs – social embeddedness and a sense of life’s meaning.
Recent research in Morales' lab has found that collective effervescence increases the perception that one's life has meaning, happiness, and satisfaction with life. Amazingly, the positive effects of collective effervescence seem to last for at least six months!
Higher education offers ample opportunities for collective effervescence. Despite the challenges in community-building posed by diversity, equity, and inclusion bans on some campuses, research shows that promoting collective experiences can benefit student retention, mental health, and a sense of belonging.
To capitalize on these opportunities, Morales suggests a few practical strategies:
- Create Shared Experiences: Host events that foster communal connections, such as cultural festivals, concerts, or sports events.
- Foster Collaboration: Support student clubs and organizations, volunteer opportunities, or other activities that encourage students to work together towards a common goal.
- Promote Inclusivity: Ensure that events and spaces on campus cater to diverse groups of students, making everyone feel welcome and valued.
- Design Campus Spaces: Create communal study areas, lounges, and public art installations that invite students to socialize and collaborate.
- Empower Student Leadership: Give students the opportunity to lead collective events, providing them with a sense of purpose and an opportunity to enjoy the positive effects of collective effervescence.
By prioritizing these strategies, colleges and universities can create a supportive environment that promotes collective effervescence and, in turn, increases student retention, mental health, and overall sense of belonging on campus. Even for students who might not realize their need for collective experiences, the benefits are worth exploring.
- Science has shown that college campus events, such as cultural festivals, concerts, or sports events, can induce collective effervescence, a surge of energy and shared emotional connection that boosts mental health and a sense of belonging among college students.
- In the realm of education-and-self-development, promoting mental-health and personal-growth, higher education institutions can create shared experiences through collaborative activities, fostering a health-and-wellness-friendly environment.
- Encouraging collective experiences on college campuses, including student-led initiatives, can lead to an increase in belonging, mental well-being, and longer-lasting satisfaction with life, as discovered in studies on collective effervescence.
