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Authoritarian and benevolent god representations and the two sides of prosociality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 March 2016

Kathryn A. Johnson  and
Adam B. Cohen
Kathryn A. Johnson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287. [email protected]://psychology-dev.clas.asu.edu/faculty/[email protected]://psychology.clas.asu.edu/faculty/adam-cohen
Adam B. Cohen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287. [email protected]://psychology-dev.clas.asu.edu/faculty/[email protected]://psychology.clas.asu.edu/faculty/adam-cohen
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Abstract

The Big Gods model focuses on belief in an authoritarian God as a psychological mechanism that inhibits antisocial behavior and facilitates the formation of tight, cohesive groups. Recent empirical evidence suggests, however, that belief in a benevolent God is more likely to inspire helping and inclusivity. Both kinds of beliefs are necessary to explain the development of large-scale societies.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 39 , 2016 , e16
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Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2016 

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