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Supernatural explanations across 114 societies are more common for natural than social phenomena

Author

Listed:
  • Joshua Conrad Jackson

    (Northwestern University)

  • Danica Dillion

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Brock Bastian

    (University of Melbourne)

  • Joseph Watts

    (University of Otago
    Max Planck Institute)

  • William Buckner

    (Boston University)

  • Nicholas DiMaggio

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

  • Kurt Gray

    (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill)

Abstract

Humans across the globe use supernatural beliefs to explain the world around them. This article explores whether cultural groups invoke the supernatural more to explain natural phenomena (for example, storms, disease outbreaks) or social phenomena (for example, murder, warfare). Quantitative analysis of ethnographic text across 114 geographically and culturally diverse societies found that supernatural explanations are more prevalent for natural than for social phenomena, consistent with theories that ground the origin of religious belief in a human tendency to perceive intent and agency in the natural world. Despite the dominance of supernatural explanations of natural phenomena, supernatural explanations of social phenomena were especially prevalent in urbanized societies with more socially complex and anonymous groups. Our results show how people use supernatural beliefs as explanatory tools in non-industrial societies, and how these applications vary across small-scale communities versus large and urbanized groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshua Conrad Jackson & Danica Dillion & Brock Bastian & Joseph Watts & William Buckner & Nicholas DiMaggio & Kurt Gray, 2023. "Supernatural explanations across 114 societies are more common for natural than social phenomena," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 7(5), pages 707-717, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:7:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1038_s41562-023-01558-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01558-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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