"What do a patient with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a basketball star, and an animal in captivity have in common? According to new research from Tel Aviv University, … ritualistic behavior in both humans and animals developed as a way to induce calm and manage stress caused by unpredictability and uncontrollability — heightening our belief that we are in control of a situation that is otherwise out of our hands…" [i.e., finding refuge from the world through tunnel-visioning on an activity we control].

"Almost every human and animal activity can be divided into three parts, Prof. Eilam explains — "preparatory," "functional," and "confirmatory." The functional aspect is defined by the specific actions that must occur in order to complete a task. But the preparatory and confirmatory actions, dubbed "head" and "tail" actions by the researchers, are not strictly required in order to get the job done. We complete them both before and after the central task, but they are not necessarily related to it. Individuals complete different head and tail activities for every task."

"During the course of their study, Prof. Eilam and his fellow researchers watched and analyzed videotapes of people completing common tasks, such as putting on a shirt, locking a car, or making coffee, as well as basketball players completing a free-throw. In the case of basketball players, explains Prof. Eilam, all they actually need to do to complete their action is throw the ball. So why the preceding ritualistic behavior, such as bouncing the ball precisely six times?"

"The routine they perform in the moments before shooting the ball is a method to focus their full concentration and control their actions." Prof. Eilam says. It's also an essential part of sports psychology. If players feel that completing their repetitive actions will enhance their performance, they tend to be more successful. This could include anything from locker room antics to LeBron James' infamous pre-game chalk toss."

As long as it is within reasonable limits, not all "obsessive compulsive" behavior constitutes a disorder. When turning in for the night, I almost always check that the front door is locked 2-3 times – once on the way to checking that windows are locked and all lights are off and then again after that, as the final check for the night. If I interrupt this ritual to get a glass of water or something then I usually check the front door lock yet one final time as the last thing before going to bed. When going out, I check my fly a couple of times. When going to Beit ha-k^әnës′ët, I check that I'm wearing a kip•âh′ 2-3 times. So, if you do this kind of ritual, don't automatically fear that you have OCD. There are some things that you want to take reasonable precautions not to forget. It's when the "head" and "tail" rituals get in the way of the "functional" that it constitutes BCD.

But these are rituals and they serve a purpose.

"OCD patients were observed to engage in more "tail" activity than basketball players who displayed more “head” activity, says Prof. Eilam. The former suffer from a feeling of incompleteness — they are unsure whether or not their task has been completed, and compulsive behavior is driven by a need to verify the action. Unlike a free-throw, where there is a distinct cue — throwing the ball — that signals the end of the action, a common compulsive behavior, such as washing one's hands, might not have as clear an ending. There is no external reference to indicate "absolute clean."

Comparing the parallels to religious "head" and "tail" rituals infuses the rituals both with their meaning and their importance relative to the "functional" activity itself.

We say a short b^әrâkh•âh′ before we eat (a "head" or "preparatory" ritual) and a longer b^әrâkh•âh′ after (a "tail" or "confirmatory" ritual). What do these pair of rituals tell us?

Putting on tzitz•it′ and t^әphil•in′ are themselves rituals introducing a day of "functional" activity, yet we introduce each of these rituals with yet another "head" ("preparatory") ritual. What does introducing a ritual with a ritual tell us? Are we getting "ritual heavy" to the detriment of our "functionality." Upon which is placed the most importance: "preparatory" ritual or functional activity – actually doing the work of Tor•âh′ and Ha•lâkh•âh′ by serving the good of society and our fellow who is one of י--ה's creatures?

Any ritual that you perform, consider – and evaluate – these factors.