LEVYNA conducted field research in Mauritius
The purpose of the Early Career Award is to praise young researchers working in the field of psychology of religion.
Martin was selected based on his research of ritualized behavior. He accepted the award during the IAPR conference in Gdaňsk and on this occasion, he also delivered the lecture „Religions as complex adaptive systems: The evolutionary paths of religious beliefs and behaviors.“
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.