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Homo historicus: History as psychological science

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2025

David Pietraszewski Open the ORCID record for David Pietraszewski [Opens in a new window]  and
Michael Moncrieff Open the ORCID record for Michael Moncrieff [Opens in a new window]
David Pietraszewski*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA [email protected] https://psych.ucsb.edu/people/faculty/david-pietraszewski
Michael Moncrieff
Affiliation:
Department of International Public Law & International Organization, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland [email protected] https://www.unige.ch/droit/collaborateur/assistants/moncrieff-michael/
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

Historical myths are indeed a mystery in need of explanation, and we elaborate on the present adaptationist account. However, the same analysis can also be applied to motivations to produce and consume history in general: That humans produce and consume history is also a mystery in need of psychological explanation. An adaptationist psychological science of history is needed.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 47 , 2024 , e188
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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