The places of agency detection and predictive processing in the ontogenesis of religious belief; and “Who put the ‘H’ in the Hadd?”

Bibliographic Data

ID16909208
AuthorsAndrew Ross Atkinson (0000-0002-5865-1514, University of Agder, corresponding author)
Year2024
Volume14
Issue2
Pages119-130
Publication date2024-04-02
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueReligion Brain & Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2153-5981 • E-ISSN: 2153-599X
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/2153599x.2023.2168731
OpenAlexW4362519112
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited36

This paper addresses the origin of the hyperactive (or hypersensitive) agent (or agency) detection device (HADD) and its ‘places’ in the ontogenesis of religion. In 1. I engage in a preamble surrounding correspondence with Robert McCauley, Justin Barrett, and Tom Lawson on the origins of the HADD idea. In 2. I explain the roles HADD is purported to have had in the evolution of religion and a religious mindset from two potentially conflicting perspectives. I claim there is confusion where these two perspectives are not properly demarcated. In 3. I trace the evolution of the HADD concept. At 4. I outline the current condition of the HADD idea in light of several objections to it. I conclude that a) although history does not support the origins of the HADD idea as having any one single author, it is Barrett who spearheaded it and defended it, thusly galvanising his name to the concept historically; b) that as it is described in 2a it is compatible with predictive processing as described in 2b; and c) that the concept of HADD in its variant forms still excites philosophical and empirical questions, the answers to which are relevant to the science versus religion debate

Confusion · Epistemology · Psychoanalysis · Subjectification · Evolutionary Game Theory and Cooperation · Philosophy · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology · Study and Philosophy of Religion

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access