Processes of Believing: Where Do They Come From? What Are They Good For?

Overview

Journal F1000Res

Specialties Biomedical Engineering
Science

Date 2017 Feb 4

PMID 28105309

Citations 8

Authors

Rudiger J Seitz

Raymond F Paloutzian

Hans-Ferdinand Angel

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Despite the long scholarly discourse in Western theology and philosophy on religion, spirituality, and faith, explanations of what a belief and what believing is are still lacking. Recently, cognitive neuroscience research addressed the human capacity of believing. We present evidence suggesting that believing is a human brain function which results in probabilistic representations with attributes of personal meaning and value and thereby guides individuals' behavior. We propose that the same mental processes operating on narratives and rituals constitute belief systems in individuals and social groups. Our theoretical model of believing is suited to account for secular and non-secular belief formation.

Citing Articles

Pathways and crossroads to creditions: Insights from a retrospective view.

Angel H Front Psychol. 2022; 13:942590.

PMID: 36405173 PMC: 9673172. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.942590.

Mindfulness in the focus of the neurosciences - The contribution of neuroimaging to the understanding of mindfulness.

Weder B Front Behav Neurosci. 2022; 16:928522.

PMID: 36325155 PMC: 9622333. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.928522.

Believing and social interactions: effects on bodily expressions and personal narratives.

Seitz R, Angel H, Paloutzian R, Taves A Front Behav Neurosci. 2022; 16:894219.

PMID: 36275855 PMC: 9584167. DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.894219.

Believing processes during the COVID-19 pandemic in individuals with bipolar disorder: An exploratory study.

Tietz S, Wagner-Skacel J, Angel H, Ratzenhofer M, Fellendorf F, Fleischmann E World J Psychiatry. 2022; 12(7):929-943.

PMID: 36051599 PMC: 9331453. DOI: 10.5498/wjp.v12.i7.929.

Cognitive Bias: Phylogenesis or Ontogenesis?.

van Eyghen H Front Psychol. 2022; 13:892829.

PMID: 35967732 PMC: 9364952. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.892829.

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