Passesis

Passesis is a term used in sociocultural theory to describe a ritualized pattern of social interaction in which participants move through a sequence of discrete micro-actions that collectively coordinate group behavior. The pattern foregrounds reciprocity and inclusion, with each step signaling consent or alignment before the next occurs. Passesis emphasizes small, repeatable gestures—verbal prompts, facial cues, or shared rituals—that accumulate to produce a common outcome.

The etymology is a blend of pass- from passing between participants and -esis denoting a process. The term began appearing in scholarly discussions of crowd dynamics and participatory design in the early 2020s, drawn from observations of everyday group activities.

Key characteristics include a non-central narrator, an emphasis on process over final outcome, and context-dependent expression. Passesis is typically observed in informal gatherings, workshops, neighborhood assemblies, and similar settings, with researchers relying on field notes and video microcoding to analyze sequences of moves.

In practice, passesis is used to analyze how communities coordinate shared tasks, negotiate consent in participatory events, and create inclusive spaces. It provides a framework for tracing how small acts of acknowledgment—like a nod, a pause, or a spoken interjection—propagate through a group.

Reception is mixed. Proponents argue that passesis offers a fine-grained lens on social coordination and nonverbal signaling. Critics contend that the concept can be vague and difficult to quantify, risking overgeneralization when applied across different cultures or contexts.

See also: ritual theory, microgesture, social cohesion, participatory design.