Evolutionary psychology of religion

branch of psychology

Exaptation or co-option is a shift in the function of a trait during evolution. For example, a trait can evolve because it served one particular function, but subsequently it may come to serve another. Exaptations are common in both anatomy and behaviour.

social and evolutionary psychology theory

emergence of religious behavior discussed in terms of natural evolution

body of theoretical work examining communication between individuals

Adaptationism is a scientific perspective on evolution that focuses on accounting for the products of evolution as collections of adaptive traits, each a product of natural selection with some adaptive rationale.

study of religious belief using evolutionary psychology principles

inclination to presume that phenomena can be explained as the actions of a conscious agent