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Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Laurin, K; Shariff, AF; Henrich, J; Kay, AC
Published in: Proceedings. Biological Sciences
August 2012

The sanctioning of norm-transgressors is a necessary--though often costly--task for maintaining a well-functioning society. Prior to effective and reliable secular institutions for punishment, large-scale societies depended on individuals engaging in 'altruistic punishment'--bearing the costs of punishment individually, for the benefit of society. Evolutionary approaches to religion suggest that beliefs in powerful, moralizing Gods, who can distribute rewards and punishments, emerged as a way to augment earthly punishment in large societies that could not effectively monitor norm violations. In five studies, we investigate whether such beliefs in God can replace people's motivation to engage in altruistic punishment, and their support for state-sponsored punishment. Results show that, although religiosity generally predicts higher levels of punishment, the specific belief in powerful, intervening Gods reduces altruistic punishment and support for state-sponsored punishment. Moreover, these effects are specifically owing to differences in people's perceptions that humans are responsible for punishing wrongdoers.

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Published In

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

279

Issue

1741

Start / End Page

3272 / 3281

Related Subject Headings

  • Religion
  • Punishment
  • Humans
  • Culture
  • Cultural Evolution
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Altruism
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences
 

Citation

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Laurin, K., Shariff, A. F., Henrich, J., & Kay, A. C. (2012). Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment. Proceedings. Biological Sciences, 279(1741), 3272–3281. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0615
Laurin, Kristin, Azim F. Shariff, Joseph Henrich, and Aaron C. Kay. “Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment.Proceedings. Biological Sciences 279, no. 1741 (August 2012): 3272–81. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2012.0615.
Laurin K, Shariff AF, Henrich J, Kay AC. Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment. Proceedings Biological Sciences. 2012 Aug;279(1741):3272–81.
Laurin, Kristin, et al. “Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment.Proceedings. Biological Sciences, vol. 279, no. 1741, Aug. 2012, pp. 3272–81. Epmc, doi:10.1098/rspb.2012.0615.
Laurin K, Shariff AF, Henrich J, Kay AC. Outsourcing punishment to God: beliefs in divine control reduce earthly punishment. Proceedings Biological Sciences. 2012 Aug;279(1741):3272–3281.
Journal cover image

Published In

Proceedings. Biological Sciences

DOI

EISSN

1471-2954

ISSN

0962-8452

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

279

Issue

1741

Start / End Page

3272 / 3281

Related Subject Headings

  • Religion
  • Punishment
  • Humans
  • Culture
  • Cultural Evolution
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Altruism
  • 11 Medical and Health Sciences
  • 07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
  • 06 Biological Sciences