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Moralistic gods, supernatural punishment and the expansion of human sociality

Author

Listed:
  • Benjamin Grant Purzycki

    (Centre for Human Evolution, Cognition, and Culture, University of British Columbia)

  • Coren Apicella

    (University of Pennsylvania, Solomon Laboratories)

  • Quentin D. Atkinson

    (University of Auckland, Human Sciences Building
    Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History)

  • Emma Cohen

    (Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology, University of Oxford
    Wadham College, University of Oxford)

  • Rita Anne McNamara

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Aiyana K. Willard

    (Culture, and Development Laboratory, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station #A8000)

  • Dimitris Xygalatas

    (University of Connecticut
    Interacting Minds Centre, Aarhus University
    LEVYNA, Masaryk University)

  • Ara Norenzayan

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Joseph Henrich

    (University of British Columbia
    University of British Columbia
    Harvard University)

Abstract

Using economic games, the authors examine the role of religion in the persistence of human cooperation; individuals who claim that their gods are moralizing, punitive and knowledgeable about human affairs are more likely to play fairly towards geographically distant co-religionists.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Grant Purzycki & Coren Apicella & Quentin D. Atkinson & Emma Cohen & Rita Anne McNamara & Aiyana K. Willard & Dimitris Xygalatas & Ara Norenzayan & Joseph Henrich, 2016. "Moralistic gods, supernatural punishment and the expansion of human sociality," Nature, Nature, vol. 530(7590), pages 327-330, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:530:y:2016:i:7590:d:10.1038_nature16980
    DOI: 10.1038/nature16980
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