The biological evolution of religious mind and behaviour

In a Darwinian world, religious behaviour - just like other behaviours - is likely to have undergone a process of natural selection in which it was rewarded in the evolutionary currency of reproductive success. This book aims to provide a better understanding of the social scenarios in which selection pressureled to religious practices becoming an evolved human trait, i.e. an adaptive answer to the conditions of living and surviving that prevailed among our prehistoric ancestors. This aim is pursued by a team of expert authors from a range of disciplines. Their contributions examine the relevant physiological, emotional, cognitive and social processes. The resulting understanding of the functional interplay of these processes gives valuable insights into the biological roots and benefits of religion. Presents new scientific evidence for controversial hypotheses about religiosity Combines modern psychology and psychiatry with evolutionary biology, archeology, anthropology to explain religious phenomena Survival value of religious behaviour is analyzed Questions whether similar mental states underlie spirituality, mysticism and delusions INDICE: Introduction.- On the Evolutionary Origin of Religious Belief and Practice.- Religion, Stories and Morals .- Brains and Representations.- Religious Behaviour.- Religion and Personality.- Perspectives.

• ISBN: 978-3-642-00127-7
• Editorial: Springer
• Encuadernacion: Cartoné
• Páginas: 350
• Fecha Publicación: 01/05/2009
• Nº Volúmenes: 1
• Idioma: Inglés