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dc.contributor.authorCzachesz, Istvan
dc.date.accessioned2019-01-20T16:23:51Z
dc.date.available2019-01-20T16:23:51Z
dc.date.issued2018-09-13
dc.description.abstractThis article explores the connection between sexual selection and religion, locating the origins of religious behavior in mate guarding after the transition to terrestrial life in <i>Homo erectus</i> 1.8 million years ago. An important consequence of the transition was the emergence of a polygynous, multiple-family social structure, which gave rise to mate guarding as a successful strategy. Further, as a result of sleeping on the ground, REM (rapid-eye-movement) phases were substantially extended. This produced novel dream experiences in <i>Homo erectus</i>, which is identified as the origin of proto-religious traits. The article argues that proto-religious dream experiences and related behavioral expressions gave males psychological and strategic advantages in keeping competitors away from their females. Given the strong selective pressure of male competition in polygynous mating systems, biological traits underlying proto-religion were successful in natural selection. Finally, it is suggested how subsequent evolutionary leaps in human cognition shaped religious thought and behavior and their role in sexual selection. The article is concluded by outlining how elements of the mate-guarding hypothesis could be tested and improved using empirical methods.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipGerman Research Foundationen_US
dc.descriptionThis is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in <i>Religion, Brain & Behavior</i> on , available online: <a href=http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/2153599X.2018.1498014> http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/2153599X.2018.1498014</a>.en_US
dc.identifier.citationCzachesz, I. (2018). Armaments and ornaments: mate-guarding and the evolutionary roots of religion. <i>Religion, Brain & Behavior</i>. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2018.1498014en_US
dc.identifier.cristinIDFRIDAID 1621552
dc.identifier.doi10.1080/2153599X.2018.1498014
dc.identifier.issn2153-5981
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10037/14491
dc.language.isoengen_US
dc.publisherTaylor & Francisen_US
dc.relation.journalReligion, Brain & Behavior
dc.rights.accessRightsopenAccessen_US
dc.subjectVDP::Humanities: 000::Theology and religious science: 150::Religious science, religious history: 153en_US
dc.subjectVDP::Humaniora: 000::Teologi og religionsvitenskap: 150::Religionsvitenskap, religionshistorie: 153en_US
dc.subjectOrigins of religionen_US
dc.subjectsexual selectionen_US
dc.subjectmate guardingen_US
dc.subjectterrestrial lifeen_US
dc.subjectground sleepen_US
dc.subjectdreamsen_US
dc.subjecthomo erectusen_US
dc.titleArmaments and ornaments: mate-guarding and the evolutionary roots of religionen_US
dc.typeJournal articleen_US
dc.typeTidsskriftartikkelen_US


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