Kundtová Klocová points out the lack of clarity of the key concept of “cognition” within the field of cognitive science of religion, and also critiques White’s selective emphasis on the “standard” theories that have shaped the field in its beginnings.
Specifically, Kundtová Klocová advocates to include, for example, the theories of predictive coding, cultural evolution, and complex adaptive systems within the debate on what cognitive science of religion currently is, as they have been shaping the field with increasing importance.
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In a new study published in Human Nature, LEVYNA was part of a team lead by A.K. Willard, studying how witchcraft beliefs affect social norms and behaviors. Specifically, researchers investigated whether witchcraft is regarded to be motivated by envy and how this notion influences community interactions. The findings show that, while witchcraft accusations were common, they were mostly directed at persons suspected of acting out of envy.
In an ethnographic survey-based study published in the journal Religions, D. Xygalatas and P. Maňo looked at variation in motivations for ritual practice and how it relates to the socioeconomic status of respondents. The findings indicate that whereas people of lower socioeconomic standing address more immediate concerns related to material security and safety in their ritual practices, people at the other end of the socioeconomic spectrum tend to focus on the fulfillment of spiritual, social, or cultural needs.
