The Emotional States Elicited in a Human Tower Performance: Case Study

Area of Science:

• Cultural Studies
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Human Towers (Castells) are a traditional Catalan sporting game.
• Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in 2010.
• This study focuses on the emotional experiences of participants in Human Towers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the emotional states (well-being, discomfort, affectivity) evoked by a Human Towers performance.
• To understand the psychological impact of participating in this cultural tradition.
• To analyze the relationship between the cooperative nature of Human Towers and emotional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Ethnographic case study utilizing mixed methods.
• 17 key informants (castellers) participated.
• Data collected through participant observation, field diaries, and semi-structured interviews.
• Content analysis via Atlas.ti software and SPSS database.
• Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson's Chi-square, and classification and regression trees (CRT).

Main Results:

• A majority of comments (53%) were oriented toward well-being states.
• The internal cooperative logic of Human Towers significantly enhances interpersonal relationships.
• These enhanced relationships contribute to socio-emotional well-being among participants.

Conclusions:

• The practice of Human Towers positively influences participants' emotional states, primarily promoting well-being.
• The inherent cooperative structure is a key factor in fostering positive socio-emotional outcomes.
• Human Towers serve as a valuable cultural practice for enhancing collective well-being.