For magic rituals, the more steps the better
The more time and effort a supernatural ritual takes, the more people will believe in its logic and effectiveness, say researchers from the University of Texas at Austin.
“One of the most remarkable characteristics of human cognition is the capacity to use supernatural reasoning to explain the world around us,” says Cristine Legare, who looked at Brazilian rituals called simpatias. “We argue that the characteristics of ritual are the product of an evolved cognitive system.”
Full story at Futurity.
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