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Explaining illness with evil: pathogen prevalence fosters moral vitalism

descriptionPublicationkeyboard_double_arrow_right Article , Other literature type , Journal 30 Dec 2018Embargo end date: 01 Oct 2020 Turkey, Australia, United Kingdom, Portugal, Turkey, Portugal, United Kingdom, Turkey, France, Turkey, United States, United Kingdom, United Kingdom Publisher:The Royal SocietyJournal:Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, volume 286, page 20,191,576 (issn: 0962-8452, eissn: 1471-2954,

Authors: Bastian, Brock; Vauclair, Christin-Melanie; Loughnan, Steve; Bain, Paul; Ashokkumar, Ashwini; Becker, Maja; Bilewicz, Michał; +26 Authors

doi: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1576 , 10.29000/rumelide.504254 , 10.22028/d291-32424

pmid: 31662082

pmc: PMC6842846

handle: 20.500.11820/2ba148ca-32c9-43f4-9611-d26a0856b997 , 20.500.11779/1245

Explaining illness with evil: pathogen prevalence fosters moral vitalism

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Abstract

Pathogens represent a significant threat to human health leading to the emergence of strategies designed to help manage their negative impact. We examined how spiritual beliefs developed to explain and predict the devastating effects of pathogens and spread of infectious disease. Analysis of existing data in studies 1 and 2 suggests that moral vitalism (beliefs about spiritual forces of evil) is higher in geographical regions characterized by historical higher levels of pathogens. Furthermore, drawing on a sample of 3140 participants from 28 countries in study 3, we found that historical higher levels of pathogens were associated with stronger endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs. Furthermore, endorsement of moral vitalistic beliefs statistically mediated the previously reported relationship between pathogen prevalence and conservative ideologies, suggesting these beliefs reinforce behavioural strategies which function to prevent infection. We conclude that moral vitalism may be adaptive: by emphasizing concerns over contagion, it provided an explanatory model that enabled human groups to reduce rates of contagious disease.

Countries

Turkey, Australia, United Kingdom, Portugal, Turkey, Portugal, United Kingdom, Turkey, France, Turkey, United States, United Kingdom, United Kingdom

Related Organizations

Sun Yat-sen University
China (People's Republic of)
Department of Psychology University of Bath
United Kingdom
University of California System
United States
University of Toulouse
France
University of Zurich
Switzerland

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Keywords

Mind maps;L2 writing;metacognitive;outlines, [SHS.PSY]Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology, Medical and Health Sciences, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2300; name=General Environmental Science, 1100 Agricultural and Biological Sciences, Spiritual belief, Prevalence, Zihin haritaları;L2 yazma;metabilişsel;ana hatlar, Disease, /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being; name=SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being, :Ciências Agrárias::Outras Ciências Agrárias [Domínio/Área Científica], :Ciências Médicas::Medicina Básica [Domínio/Área Científica], :Ciências Médicas::Medicina Clínica [Domínio/Área Científica], 2400 Immunology and Microbiology, Biological Sciences, Biological Evolution, spiritual belief, Religion, Infectious Diseases, L2 writing, [SCCO.PSYC] Cognitive science/Psychology, [SCCO.PSYC]Cognitive science/Psychology, Pathogens, Infection, 2300 Environmental Science, 1300 Biochemistry, 170, BF, Genetics and Molecular Biology, Metacognitive, Morals, Communicable Diseases, Spiritual Belief, [SHS.PSY] Humanities and Social Sciences/Psychology, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1300/1300; name=General Biochemistry,Genetics and Molecular Biology, Humans, :Ciências Naturais::Ciências Biológicas [Domínio/Área Científica], Vitalism, disease, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Prevention, vitalism, Outlines, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1100; name=General Agricultural and Biological Sciences, pathogens, morality, Morality, :Ciências Médicas::Outras Ciências Médicas [Domínio/Área Científica], Mind maps, Emerging Infectious Diseases, Good Health and Well Being, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2400/2400; name=General Immunology and Microbiology, :Ciências Naturais::Ciências da Terra e do Ambiente [Domínio/Área Científica]

Impact byBIP!

	citations This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).	15
	popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.	Top 10%
	influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).	Average
	impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.	Top 10%