Detailed Information on Publication Record

KUNDTOVÁ KLOCOVÁ, Eva. Look up and kneel down before your God: why the position matters. In XXI. World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions: "Dynamics of the Religions: Past and Present". 2015.

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Basic information
Original name	Look up and kneel down before your God: why the position matters
Name (in English)	Look up and kneel down before your God: why the position matters
Authors	KUNDTOVÁ KLOCOVÁ, Eva.
Edition	XXI. World Congress of the International Association for the History of Religions: "Dynamics of the Religions: Past and Present" 2015.

Other information
Type of outcome	Presentations at conferences
Confidentiality degree	is not subject to a state or trade secret
Organization unit	Faculty of Arts
Changed by	Changed by: Mgr. Vendula Hromádková, učo 108933. Changed: 2/5/2019 11:35.

Abstract
Most religious traditions emphasize strict power distinctions between the human and superhuman/divine and often demand a submissive attitude towards the superhuman agents. This attitude can be enforced not only directly in teachings and theology of the given religious tradition, but also by ritual practices using embodied states of submission, such as kneeling, prostrating or looking up to the representation of deity. I argue that these practices in religious rituals are not mere expressions of subordination; rather, they establish and modulate submissive attitude and behaviour towards the superhuman agents. Experimental evidence supports this assertion for other bodily postures and the vertical orientation of perception. There is however no exhaustive research program focusing on submissive positions and dominance cues in religious rituals. The proposed paper will present experimental research exploring the influence of posture and location of stimuli on the perceptions and self-perceptions of power and dominance.

Abstract

Most religious traditions emphasize strict power distinctions between the human and superhuman/divine and often demand a submissive attitude towards the superhuman agents. This attitude can be enforced not only directly in teachings and theology of the given religious tradition, but also by ritual practices using embodied states of submission, such as kneeling, prostrating or looking up to the representation of deity. I argue that these practices in religious rituals are not mere expressions of subordination; rather, they establish and modulate submissive attitude and behaviour towards the superhuman agents. Experimental evidence supports this assertion for other bodily postures and the vertical orientation of perception. There is however no exhaustive research program focusing on submissive positions and dominance cues in religious rituals. The proposed paper will present experimental research exploring the influence of posture and location of stimuli on the perceptions and self-perceptions of power and dominance.

Abstract (in English)
Most religious traditions emphasize strict power distinctions between the human and superhuman/divine and often demand a submissive attitude towards the superhuman agents. This attitude can be enforced not only directly in teachings and theology of the given religious tradition, but also by ritual practices using embodied states of submission, such as kneeling, prostrating or looking up to the representation of deity. I argue that these practices in religious rituals are not mere expressions of subordination; rather, they establish and modulate submissive attitude and behaviour towards the superhuman agents. Experimental evidence supports this assertion for other bodily postures and the vertical orientation of perception. There is however no exhaustive research program focusing on submissive positions and dominance cues in religious rituals. The proposed paper will present experimental research exploring the influence of posture and location of stimuli on the perceptions and self-perceptions of power and dominance.

Abstract (in English)

Links
EE2.3.20.0048, research and development project	Name: Laboratoř pro experimentální výzkum náboženství