Final answer:
Stylized performances associated with social, political, and religious activities are called rituals, which are cohesive acts with religious or secular significance, and are inherently performative.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stylized performances involving symbols that are associated with social, political, and religious activities are called rituals. Rituals are defined as “astereotyped sequences of activities performed in a sequestered place, and designed to influence preternatural entities or forces on behalf of the actors' goals and interests.” They serve as a means of expressing and defining social relations, whether in a context of ambiguity, conflict, or solidarity affirmation. Examples include wedding ceremonies, religious holidays like Christmas or Hanukkah, and rites of rebellion such as Halloween. Unlike witchcraft, sorcery, and magic which can express social conflict and are often more visible in larger societies, rituals are cohesive acts that can hold both religious and secular significance and are performative in nature.