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Form and function in religious signaling under pathogen stress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Paul Swartwout ,
Benjamin Grant Purzycki  and
Richard Sosis
Paul Swartwout
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2176. paul.swartwout@uconn.edu benjamin.purzycki@uconn.edu richard.sosis@uconn.edu http://www.anth.uconn.edu/faculty/sosis/
Benjamin Grant Purzycki
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2176. paul.swartwout@uconn.edu benjamin.purzycki@uconn.edu richard.sosis@uconn.edu http://www.anth.uconn.edu/faculty/sosis/
Richard Sosis
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-2176. paul.swartwout@uconn.edu benjamin.purzycki@uconn.edu richard.sosis@uconn.edu http://www.anth.uconn.edu/faculty/sosis/
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Abstract

The evolution of religious traditions may be partially explained by out-group avoidance due to pathogen stress. However, many religious rituals may increase rather than decrease performers' susceptibility to infection. Moreover, religions often spread through proselytizing, which requires out-group interaction; and in other cases, the benefits of economic exchange increase religious pluralism and social interactions with out-groups.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 92 - 93
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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