The social functions of shamanism.
Behav Brain Sci January 1, 2018 Rachel E. Watson-Jones, Cristine H. Legare 7 citations
Cultural evolutionary explanations of shamanism need to account for both its widespread recurrence and its variation across cultures. The authors argue that Singh's account of shamanism would be improved by focusing on the social functions shamanism serves within groups. Specifically, shamanism enhances social group cohesion, which sets it apart from other magico-religious practices.