Behavioral and Brain Sciences

Table of Contents - April 2012 - Volume 35, Issue 02  

Open Peer Commentary

Form and function in religious signaling under pathogen stress

Paul Swartwouta1, Benjamin Grant Purzyckia1 and Richard Sosisa1

a1 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/

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.

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