Why Study Patterns?

Patterns are ritual movements. Ritual movements in animal and in humans are redundant, repetitive, and exaggerated. Ritualistic movements depict violence and responses to violence in an effort to avoid or defuse violence. Watch two dogs as they perform their instinctive ritual movements that allow them to establish which dog is dominate without having to resort to a physical confrontation.

Ritual movements depict violence but they are used to purify violence rather than to elicit it. In rituals, the behaviors that may lead to violence and the actions that may be used in response to violence are acted out. The ritual movements send the message, “I am able to defeat you, so leave me alone!” The ritualistic movements in patterns help students learn to deal with the concept of violence, to defuse violence, and to take action against violence when all else fails.