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Useful distraction: Ritualized behavior as an opportunity for recalibration

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 February 2007

John L. Orrock*
Affiliation:
National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA93101http://www.nceas.ucsb.edu/~orrock

Abstract

Responding to potential hazards is likely to require precaution-related recalibration, the extensive integration of complex variables related to inferred risk and fitness. By swamping working memory with goal-demoted actions and focusing recalibration on the inferred threat, ritualized behaviors may serve to increase the efficacy of precaution-related recalibration. This benefit may be an important mechanism maintaining non-pathological ritualized behavior.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

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