The influence of stories including myths of origin

Behav Brain Sci. 2025 Jan 2:47:e186. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X24000815.

Abstract

Sijilmassi et al. argue that myths serve to gain coalitional support by detailing shared histories of ancestry and cooperation. They overlook the emotional influences of stories, which include myths of human origin. We suggest that influential myths do not promote cooperation principally by signaling common ancestry, but by prompting human emotions of interdependence and connection.

MeSH terms

  • Biological Evolution
  • Cooperative Behavior
  • Emotions* / physiology
  • Humans