The Interplay of Religion, Culture, and BiologyAs biological beings living in a social world, humans develop psychological traits and behaviors from the interplay between nature and nurture. One challenge is to understand the ways in which genetic and environmental factors interact to predict different outcomes. How can the gene-environment interaction (G x E) framework be used to understand religious prosocial and antisocial behavior, for instance? What are the implications of G x E for health and well-being? How can G x E inform the broader cultural neuroscience approach to understanding the mutual relationship between culture and the mind?
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Religion, Culture, and Social CognitionReligious and cultural beliefs are supported by ordinary cognitive processes and can also shape the way we think. What are the cognitive mechanisms underlying different components of religion, such as supernatural beliefs and religious group affiliation, and how do religious thoughts influence the way we perceive others? How does culture affect what we attend to and how we integrate information in the surrounding context? How do religious and cultural beliefs help people make sense of the world?
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