Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based
Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction

k 2016

Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction

KAŠE, Vojtěch and Tomáš HAMPEJS

Basic information

Original name

Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction

Name in Czech

Modelování kulturního přenosu rituálu: Multiagentní model kontrastující sociální funkci s kognitivní atraktivitou

Authors

KAŠE, Vojtěch (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Tomáš HAMPEJS (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

6th biennial meeting of the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion, 2016

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Presentations at conferences

Field of Study

60300 6.3 Philosophy, Ethics and Religion

Country of publisher

Canada

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

presentation

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/16:00093232

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

Keywords in English

cognitive science of religion; cognitive ritual theories; agent-based modelling; cultural transmission; eucharistic origins

Abstract

In the original language

What is the role of social function and the role of cognitive attraction as factors driving the cultural transmission of rituals? In our paper, we address this question with the method of agent-based modelling (ABM). Drawing on our historical work concerning the development of early Christian meals from ordinary Graeco-Roman banquets to goal-demoted magical practices, we introduce a model informed both by ancient historical context and recent experimental findings. We want to extend and combine results of current behavioral experiments exploring the calusal mechanisms of panhuman sociality and cognition with historical study of long-term cultural processes. In that respect, the ABM represents a valuable integrative tool. There is a broad evidence that participation in collective rituals promotes social cohesion among the participants. However, at least some aspects characterizing ritualized behavior do not contribute to this function. These aspects advances perceived supernaturally efficacy of rituals. Although both the social and efficacious aspects of rituals contribute to the process of cultural selection of particular ritual forms, it is clear they operate differently. While the advantage of ritual forms producing social cohesion roots in their impact on properties and size of personal social network, the rituals perceived as more efficacious gain their advantage by motivating participants to attend them repeatedly regardless the social impact. We design and evaluate a historically informed model contrasting these factors in order to explore their relative importance in cultural transmission.

Links

MUNI/M/1867/2014, interní kód MU

Name: Generativní historiografie antického Středomoří: Modelování a simulace dynamiky šíření náboženských představ a forem chování (Acronym: GEHIR)

Investor: Masaryk University, INTERDISCIPLINARY - Interdisciplinary research projects

Cite

KAŠE, Vojtěch and Tomáš HAMPEJS. Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction. In 6th biennial meeting of the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion. 2016.

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   author = {Kaše, Vojtěch and Hampejs, Tomáš},
   booktitle = {6th biennial meeting of the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion},
   keywords = {cognitive science of religion; cognitive ritual theories; agent-based modelling; cultural transmission; eucharistic origins},
   language = {eng},
   title = {Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction},
   url = {https://www.academia.edu/attachments/51537502/download_file?st=MTQ4NTY3NTg0OCw3OS45OC43NS4xMCwzNzY4OTI%3D&s=swp-toolbar},
   year = {2016}
}

TY  - CONF
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AU  - Kaše, Vojtěch - Hampejs, Tomáš
PY  - 2016
TI  - Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction
KW  - cognitive science of religion
KW  - cognitive ritual theories
KW  - agent-based modelling
KW  - cultural transmission
KW  - eucharistic origins
UR  - https://www.academia.edu/attachments/51537502/download_file?st=MTQ4NTY3NTg0OCw3OS45OC43NS4xMCwzNzY4OTI%3D&s=swp-toolbar
N2  - What is the role of social function and the role of cognitive attraction as factors driving the cultural transmission of rituals? In our paper, we address this question with the method of agent-based modelling (ABM). Drawing on our historical work concerning the development of early Christian meals from ordinary Graeco-Roman banquets to goal-demoted magical practices, we introduce a model informed both by ancient historical context and recent experimental findings. We want to extend and combine results of current behavioral experiments exploring the calusal mechanisms of panhuman sociality and cognition with historical study of long-term cultural processes. In that respect, the ABM represents a valuable integrative tool. There is a broad evidence that participation in collective rituals promotes social cohesion among the participants. However, at least some aspects characterizing ritualized behavior do not contribute to this function. These aspects advances perceived supernaturally efficacy of rituals. Although both the social and efficacious aspects of rituals contribute to the process of cultural selection of particular ritual forms, it is clear they operate differently. While the advantage of ritual forms producing social cohesion roots in their impact on properties and size of personal social network, the rituals perceived as more efficacious gain their advantage by motivating participants to attend them repeatedly regardless the social impact. We design and evaluate a historically informed model contrasting these factors in order to explore their relative importance in cultural transmission.
ER  -

KAŠE, Vojtěch and Tomáš HAMPEJS. Modelling Cultural Transmission of Rituals: An Agent-Based Model Contrasting Social Function and Cognitive Attraction. In \textit{6th biennial meeting of the International Association for the Cognitive Science of Religion}. 2016.

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