Aaron D Blackwell

Shamanism and efficacious exceptionalism.

Behavioral and Brain Sciences 2018 Aaron D Blackwell, Benjamin Grant Purzycki

Shamans can have efficacy at healing through botanical remedies and in observational and advisory functions through cognitive strengths, while shamanic acts of strangeness are likely honest signals of these qualities. Given this potential for shamanic practices to have true efficacy and the capacity for honest signaling, we expect efficacy will influence the spread, persistence, and loss of...