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Cultural differences in religious moral reasoning and thinking style
Background of the project
Dual process theorists propose two different types of process: The intuitive process (System 1) and the reflective process (System 2). One of the problems posed by dual process theorists is whether System 2, the reflective system, revises and/or suppresses maladaptive (non-normative in contemporary society) outputs of System 1. There are three possible cases.
Complete revision (System 2 revises the maladaptive outputs of System 1.)
Coexistence (The coexistence of both the outputs of System 1 and System 2.)
Rationalization (System 2 rationalizes the output of System 1.)
The big question is how and why religious beliefs and scientific thinking coexist in contemporary society. Our tentative answer is that most religious beliefs are output of System 1, and thus most of them are superstitions in contemporary society, but some of them are evolutionarily adaptive, and that scientific and/or critical thinking are output of System 2. So they coexist.
Recently, however, we have come to doubt whether all religious beliefs are intuitive or not. Although Pennycook et al. (2012) reported that people with an analytical cognitive style are less likely to have religious beliefs, Majima (2015) found that both analytical and intuitive cognitive styles positively predicted paranormal beliefs.
Topics of the project and research questions
Religious beliefs are interesting material for the investigation on the dual-process theories. We investigate following topics.
Does System 2 control the process of System 1?
Moral judgment and religious thinking in the frame of dual-process theory.
Are there any cultural differences in the control by System 2?
Are there any cultural differences in religious beliefs and/or religious thinking? Process (system 1)
The reflective process (system 2)
1. System 2 control the process of System 1?
In general, biases in intuitive thinking are likely to be revised by a reflection of System 2. However, if the output of System 1 is emotional, it is unlikely to be suppressed. Furthermore, System 2 only works to rationalise the seemingly irrational output of System 1. According to David Hume, reason is and should be the slave of the passions.
2. Moral judgment and religious thinking
2. Moral judgment and religious thinking
There are two kinds of moral judgements: Deontic and Utilitarian. In general, the former is made by System 1, the latter by System 2. Religion is an interesting test case where System 2 cannot completely suppress intuitive and superstitious beliefs.
3. Cultural differences in the control by System 2?
It is uncertain whether there are cultural differences in the control of System 2. But it is plausible that Easterners accept contradictory outcomes from System 1 and System 2 because they have been shown to be more dialectical than Westerners.
4. Cultural differences in religious beliefs?
4. Cultural differences in religious beliefs?
It is obvious that there are cultural differences in what kind of religion people accept: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, etc. The question is whether religion influences the way people think and whether religion is associated with culturally specific behaviours.
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For more information about the project, please contact [yama.hiroshi1204@gmail.com].
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