Culture 2

Question 1

what evolutionary byproducts played into the formation of religion?

Answer 1

intuitive mind/body dualism
hyperactive agency detection
promiscuous teleology
existential terror

Question 2

intuitive mind/body dualism

Answer 2

we intuitively see minds and bodies as separate due to different mental systems that perceive social creatures and physical objects
makes it easy to imagine mental lives existing out of a body

Question 3

what is the reality of mind/body dualism?

Answer 3

the mind is what the brain does and is technically also a physical object

Question 4

hyperactive agency detection/pareidolia

Answer 4

tendency to see faces in random objects

gave rise to seeing supernatural agents when their wasn’t one

Question 5

why do we see faces in random objects?

Answer 5

tuned to over-detect because of vigilance for predators, it was more costly to fail to perceive a real face when out in the wild

Question 6

promiscuous teleology

Answer 6

our brains our over-tuned to decipher causation for social learning purposes (imitation)
lead us to see goal states behind natural states

Question 7

teleology meaning

Answer 7

idea of assuming there are goal states behind something

Question 8

existential terror

Answer 8

because of the unpredictability and chaos of the world, our minds try to impose order and coherence through religion
motivational state instead of cognitive adaptation like the other reasons

Question 9

cultural group selection

Answer 9

whole groups can win over others, like ideas

Question 10

how are cultural groups selected for?

Answer 10

direct intergroup competition
differential groups survival without conflict
differential reproduction
differential migration
prestige or success-based group transmission

Question 11

direct intergroup competition

Answer 11

outcompeting other groups through conflict

anything that makes war efforts stronger would be selected for

Question 12

examples of selected for cultural traits through direct intergroup competition

Answer 12

synchronization

calling each other “brothers”

Question 13

differential group survival without conflict

Answer 13

out-surviving another group in a harsh condition/environment

Question 14

differential reproduction

Answer 14

practices that promote having more children increases reach of the culture

Question 15

differential migration

Answer 15

siphoning away members of one group because yours is more attractive
e.g. refugees adopting the new culture

Question 16

prestige/success-biased group transmission

Answer 16

groups may just adopt cultural ideas of more successful or higher prestige ones

Question 17

aspects of religion that embody transmission mechanisms

Answer 17

fertility
monogamy
morality

Question 18

fertility’s role in religion

Answer 18

religions that promote sex and are anti abortion and birth control were more likely to survive

Question 19

family values

Answer 19

social conservatism, the traditional norms of hetero marriage and no birth control

Question 20

monogamy’s role in religion

Answer 20

marriage availability decreases likelihood of risky behaviour
polygamous societies caused a hierarchy of those with partners and those without