Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-2lccl Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-25T11:56:26.527Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mechanisms by which parasites influence cultures, and why they matter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2012

Mark Schaller  and
Damian R. Murray
Mark Schaller
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. schaller@psych.ubc.cadmurray@psych.ubc.cahttp://neuron4.psych.ubc.ca/~schallerlab/
Damian R. Murray
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada. schaller@psych.ubc.cadmurray@psych.ubc.cahttp://neuron4.psych.ubc.ca/~schallerlab/
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

At least four conceptually distinct mechanisms may mediate relations between parasite-stress and cultural outcomes: genetic evolution, developmental plasticity, neurocognitive flexibility, and cultural transmission. These mechanisms may operate independently or in conjunction with one another. Rigorous research on specific mediating mechanisms is required to more completely articulate implications of parasite stress on human psychology and human culture.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 35 , Issue 2 , April 2012 , pp. 91 - 92
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Chiao, J. Y. & Blizinsky, K. D. (2010) Culture-gene coevolution of individualism-collectivism and the serotonin transporter gene. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B: Biological Sciences 277:529–37.Google ScholarPubMed
Murray, D. R., Trudeau, R. & Schaller, M. (2011) On the origins of cultural differences in conformity: Four tests of the pathogen prevalence hypothesis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 37:318–29.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Russell, P. F. (1952) Malaria: Basic principles, briefly stated. Blackwell Science.Google Scholar
Schaller, M. & Murray, D. R. (2011) Infectious disease and the creation of culture. In: Advances in culture and psychology, vol. 1, ed. Gelfand, M., Chiu, C.-Y. & Hong, Y.-Y., pp. 99–151. Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Waller, N. G., Kojetin, B. A., Bouchard, T. J. Jr., Lykken, D. T. & Tellegen, A. (1990) Genetic and environmental influences on religious interests, attitudes, and values: A study of twins reared apart and together. Psychological Science 1:138–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar