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Increased affluence, life history theory, and the decline of shamanism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 April 2018

Nicolas Baumard
Nicolas Baumard*
Affiliation:
Institut d'Etude de la Cognition, Ecole Normale Supérieure, 75005 Paris, France. [email protected]://sites.google.com/site/nicolasbaumard/
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Abstract

I applaud Singh's proposition to use evolutionary psychology to explain the recurrence of shamanistic beliefs. Here, I suggest that evolutionary mechanisms (i.e., life history theory) also can explain the variability of the distribution of shamanism. When resources are abundant, individuals become more patient and more open minded to the point that science becomes cognitively attractive and may replace magic.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 41 , 2018 , e67
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2018 

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