A Quasi-Ritual Model of the Drum Circle: Shared-Field Cognition, Non-Contact Affective Exchange, and Social Implementation

This working paper defines the drum circle as a quasi-ritual practice rather than mere recreation, therapy, or musical performance. It introduces shared-field cognition as a collective state in which participants perceive the interaction field itself as a primary object, beyond individual dyadic relations. The paper analyzes the emergence of shared-field cognition through third-party mediation at N=3 and its stabilization through redundant mediation at N>=4. The paper further examines circular arrangement, many-to-many nonverbal contact, membranophone-based repetition and synchronization, nonverbal and non-contact affective exchange, and the facilitator’s role in integrating the field into a quasi-ritual form. It also discusses the social implementation value of drum circles as a safe practice for temporarily expanding affective exchange within existing organizations without relying on verbal self-disclosure or bodily contact.