LEVYNA conducted field research in Mauritius
In a pop-science article published in Dingir, E. Kundtová Klocová discusses the various socio-cultural aspects of the Thaipusam Kavadi ritual as practiced in Mauritius.
The festival of Thaipusam is celebrated in numerous Tamil communities around the world and it is the most important and spectacular religious event in their Mauritian diaspora. In her article, Eva K. K. looks at various aspects of this remarkable religious ritual to tackle its possible psychological, social, and health-related functions and benefits, as well as its mythological roots and popular conceptions.
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.