Detailed Information on Publication Record
2021
Origin of human ritual behavior
KUNDT, Radek and Martin LANGBasic information
Original name
Origin of human ritual behavior
Authors
Edition
Cultural Evolution Society Conference 2021, online, 2021
Other information
Language
English
Type of outcome
Prezentace na konferencích
Field of Study
60304 Religious studies
Country of publisher
Japan
Confidentiality degree
není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství
References:
Organization unit
Faculty of Arts
Keywords in English
ritual; evolution; cooperative communication
Tags
International impact, Reviewed
Změněno: 16/2/2022 10:52, Mgr. Ivona Vrzalová
Abstract
V originále
We propose an evolutionary model of the origin of ritual behavior in the hominin lineage that treats collective ritual as a communication technology facilitating mutualistic cooperation. In our model, we first synthesize the literature dealing with hunter-gatherer ethnography and hominin archaeology and identify gradual coalescence of similarity signals, coalitionary signals, and signals of commitment to collective action as the main building blocks of human ritual behavior. Subsequently, we turn to primatology and paleoanthropology to trace the presence of these signals in both non-human primates and past hominins. Adding the proximate level to our analysis, we pinpoint distinctive neurocognitive mechanisms scaffolding the three types of ritual signals and track down their presence in past hominins. Finally, we connect this evidence with the prevalent socio-ecological selective pressures for cooperative communication and offer estimates both for when the first of the ritual signals started to evolve as well as when ritual signals coalesced into an adaptation affording to overcome collective action problems.
Links
| MUNI/A/1444/2020, interní kód MU |
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