Final answer:
Rituals that mark life changes and transitions in individuals' status are known as rites of passage, consisting of separation, transition, and incorporation stages.
Step-by-step explanation:
Rituals that signify changes in individuals' status as they move through the cycle of life are referred to as rites of passage. These special rituals are associated with significant life events such as birth, puberty, marriage, and death. Identified by the anthropologist Arnold van Gennep in the early 20th century, rites of passage consist of three stages:
- Separation: The individual is removed from their usual environment and former social status.
- Transition (liminality): The individual is in a state of flux, often undergoing instruction or tests in preparation for their new role.
- Incorporation: The individual is reintroduced to society with their new status, equipped with the rights and duties that correspond to it.
Rituals also serve to affirm community bonds, mark life transformations, and provide a means for renewal or healing.