Note: Entries in this index, carried over verbatim from the print edition of this title, are unlikely to correspond to the pagination of any given e-book reader. However, entries in this index, and other terms, may be easily located by using the search feature of your e-book reader.
Page references followed by fig indicate an illustration or photograph.
actions: children on origin of, 128; free will and, 67, 121–27; Good Samaritan, 117–18. See also behavior; moral behavior; rituals
afterlife: children’s beliefs regarding, 130–32; guilt trip theory on belief in the, 234. See also death
Air-Crib” experiment, 84 fig
alchemy, 155
Alexandra of Greece, Princess, 194
Allen, Woody, 16
“Aloa, The Alligator Boy,” 136, 137 fig
alternative medicine, 157–59
Alzheimer’s disease, 148, 243–44
American Medical Association, 189
analytical-rational reasoning, 244–46
the Anasazi, 177
animals: cellular memory experiments with, 181–82; Christian belief regarding lack of souls in, 151; Darwin’s evolutionary theory on changes in, 58–60; genetic engineering of, 146–50; God’s “Great Chain of Being” inclusion of, 153–55; “gravity error” experiment and, 95; Jewish dietary law regarding “unclean,” 139–40; mind-reading by, 117; Pavlov’s conditioning experiments with, 82–83; taxonomy classification of, 140–41. See also biological concepts
animal symbols: “Lion-Man” (Hohlenstein-Stadel), 40 fig; prehistoric art, 39–41
animism, 97, 244
anthropomorphism, 98–99
anti-religion attitudes: of atheists, 64; growth of contemporary, 55–56
apophenia, 235
“apparent mental causation” belief, 18
Aristotle, 145
art: authenticity and originality issues of, 203, 205–7, 220; psychological essentialism in contemporary, 203–6
art forgery, 203
associative learning: attacks on idea of, 84–86; conditioning mechanism of, 82–83
atheists: anti-religion attitudes of, 64; comparing countries of origin of, 64–65; examining biological bias of, 23
athletic rituals, 14–15
Atran, Scott, 54, 55
attachment items: duplicating experiments on, 211–13; emotional reactions to, 208–11 fig
Auld Sod Export Company, 193
Auschwitz, 201–2, 251
authenticity: emotional basis of sense of, 220; essential reasoning and, 206–7; provenance used to prove, 203; of Sam’s “quiggle,” 207–8
babies: analysis of natural world by, 91–92; facial expressions and, 109 fig–10; as Good Samaritans, 118; grasp reflex of, 75 fig, 76, 87–88; “magic tricks” attention by, 88–90; “out of sight, out of mind” sense of reality by, 86–87, 88; rules for decoding reality by, 89–90; “shapka” experiment with, 114–15; understanding of biology by, 141–43. See also children; newborns
“Babies Are Smarter Than You Think” (Life magazine), 80
“Baby Einstein” (Walt Disney Company), 78
Barbarella (film), 184
Baron-Cohen, Simon, 108, 199
Barrett, Justin, 47
Bartlett, Sir Fredrick, 86
Báthory, Countess Erzsebet (Elisabeth), 171–72
Beckham, David, 16
behavior: conditioning mechanism of, 82–83; moral, 117–22; obsessive, 15–16, 52; unseen gaze or staring, 224, 227–29, 232–34. See also actions; rituals
behaviorism: associative learning approach of, 83–86; Chomsky’s attack on, 85, 86
beliefs: afterlife, 130–32, 234; “apparent mental causation,” 18; children’s fantasy figure, 5–6, 48; dual model of reasoning and, 244–46; environmental impact on, 102–4; groups united through common, 164–65; intuitive reasoning generating knowledge leading to, 7–8, 33–36, 46–55, 73–76, 246–48; metaphysical, 139; phobia, 51–54; sacred soil, 193–94; taboo, 162–63, 252; unseen gaze, 224; vision, 224–25. See also religious beliefs; supernatural beliefs
Bering, Jesse, 234
bestiality, 29
Big Brother’s watching, 232–34
“Big Girls Don’t Cry” (Fergie), 208
bigotry, 183
biological concepts: childhood construction of, 138–39; children’s essentialist thinking about, 145–46; early childhood understanding of, 141–43; essence of life, 143–45; freaks as abnormality, 135–38, 174–76; genetic engineering pushing boundaries of, 146–50; kosher animal categories, 139–40; living force of, 138–39; taxonomy as, 140–41. See also animals
bizarre experiences, 1–4
Blade Runner (film), 129
Blanc, Lori, 69
“Blankie” (security blanket), 209
blank-slate metaphor, 81–82, 86–87
Bloom, Paul, 121, 125, 211
Bouchard, Thomas, 66
Boyer, Pascal, 54, 55
brain: amygdala and ventral striatum structures of, 230; DLPC (dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex) of the, 240–43; dopamine system of the, 237–39; environment and wiring of the, 65; evolutionary psychology on development of the, 9; frontal lobe of, 27, 76, 240; mind as created through the, 132–33; mind as operating system of the, 81–82; natural reflexes of the, 74–76; natural rhythms settled into by the, 12; Penfield’s epilepsy experiments on the, 125; supersense as natural product of the, 237, 239; visual cortex area of the, 10–11. See also mind design
Brandes, Bernd, 178–79
Bransgrove, Shirl, 200
Bransgrove, Steve, 197–201
Breaking the Spell (Dennett), 49
Brinkley, John R., 188–89 fig
British Broadcasting Standards Commission, 173
brother-sister incest, 162–63
Brown-Séquard, Charles Édouard, 189–90
Brugger, Peter, 238
Burke, Pat, 193
Bush, George W., 162
Buzan, Deborah Skinner, 85
Byron, Lord, 171
“Camillagate” tapes, 185
Campbell, Naomi, 109
cannibalism: academic debate over, 176–77; Armin Meiwes case of, 178–79; of Countess Báthory, 172; reasons for practice of, 177–78
cannibal worms experiment, 181
Capgras syndrome, 218–19
Carey, Susan, 142
Carnegie Commission study (1969), 62
“A Case of the Haunted Scrotum” (Harding), 110, 111 fig
Castiglione, 225
The Cat in the Hat (Seuss), 77
causal reasoning error, 231
cellular memories, 179–84
Chanel No. 5, 143
Charles I, King (England), 191
Charles, Prince (England), 185
chemistry between people, 112–13
Chesterton, G. K., 63–64
child rape, 186
children: “apparent mental causation” beliefs of, 18; appeal of creationism to, 61–62, 98; copy machine duplication experiments with, 211–13, 216 fig–17; death as understood by, 130–32; dualism of, 127–28; essentialist thinking of, 145–46; fantasy beliefs of, 5–6, 48; gullibility of, 7; as intuitive magicians with reality misconceptions, 96–104; intuitive reasoning-knowledge-beliefs process by, 7–8, 33–36, 46–55, 73–76, 246–48; intuitive theories used by, 90–100; language development of, 85–86; life force as understood by, 152–53; mind design in, 18–19, 99–100; religious beliefs of family adopted by, 103–4; security blankets and attachment items of, 208–13; staring behavior by, 230. See also babies; newborns
“chi” (life force), 139
chimera, 175–76
Chinese medicine, 156–57
Chomsky, Noam, 8, 85, 86
Christian fundamentalism: creationism acceptance and role of, 56–57; growing political influence of, 56
Churchill, Winston, 194
CigArrest, 158
civet cat musk, 143
Clarke, Arthur C., 101
Clear, Rosie, 173
coco de mer nut, 156 fig, 157
collecting memorabilia: the joys and reasons for, 197–99, 220; provenance and authenticity issue of, 203, 206–8, 220; Steve Bransgrove’s theory on, 199; Steve Vee Bransgrove Collectables (Frome) for, 200 fig; symbolic value attached to, 201–3
communication: CIA machine speech recognition experiments with, 80–81; gaze as form of, 229–32. See also language
conceptual-logical reasoning, 244–46
conditioning mechanism: Pavlov’s experiments on, 82–83; reinforcement and punishment elements of, 83–86
confirmation bias, 230–31
contamination response: cultural influence on, 160–62, 163–64; essentialism and, 169–70; exorcism and, 32, 185; killer’s cardigan stunt example of, 21–22, 27–28, 29, 101, 160, 163, 170; Macbeth effect and, 31, 185; obsessive hand-washing as, 52; “once in contact, always in contact” principle of, 161–62; as organ transplant issue, 183–84; physical contact explanation of, 30–31; ritual behaviors ignoring normal, 68–69; Rosin’s research on, 28, 29; to sex, 185–87; social conformity explanation of, 30; to TV Dinners episode by public, 173–74; wisdom of repugnance and, 162–64. See also magical contagion; social connectedness
contrast effect of storytelling, 55
control illusion, 15–16
copy machine experiments. See duplication
Corinthians 13:11, 246
Cotard’s syndrome, 219
creationism: appeal to children of, 61–62, 98; as originating in the human mind, 60–62; widespread acceptance of, 56–57
creation myths, 7, 61
creativity, 239
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, 177
Critique of Pure Reason (Kant), 73
culture: belief origin and spread through, 47–48; contamination response and influence of, 160–62, 163–64; origins of supernatural ideas of, 7–8; rituals passed down through, 6; sexual attraction influenced by, 186; supernatural thinking rooted in, 6–7, 63–64, 71. See also society
Cutty Sark (19th-century clipper), 206
Cutty Sark Trust, 206
Damasio, Antonio, 26, 27, 126
Damasio, Hanna, 26, 27
Darwin, Charles, 57, 58
Darwinism, 57–60, 62
Dawkins, Richard, 7, 46–47, 57, 58, 71
death: childhood understanding of, 130–32; understood as life force departure, 151–52. See also afterlife
decision-making: cost-benefit analysis of, 251; dualism role in, 124–25; free will and, 123–24; fueled by emotions, 194–95; group cohesion undermined by market-driven, 251–52; “The Numskulls” (cartoon) example of, 122–23 fig, 125, 127, 168, 229; “Sophie’s choice,” 251
deliberative-effortful-intentional-systematic reasoning, 244–46
dementia, 243–44
Dennett, Dan: on comparing religion to viruses, 49; on “the intentional stance,” 118; religious service attendance by, 62–63; on “Supers” vs. “Brights” believers, 64–65
Descartes’ Baby (Bloom), 121
Descartes, René, 124
Diana, Princess (England), 2, 199
disgust, 28–29
dissociated disorders, 218–19
DLPC (dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex), 240–43
DNA: cellular memories of transplanted, 179–84; chimera and shared, 175–76; Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill allowing research on, 148; SARS hijacking of, 156–57
“Doctrine of Signatures” reasoning, 155
Dokic, Jelena, 15
dopamine system, 237–39
Dracula, Vlad (“Vlad the Impaler”), 170–71
dualism: children’s, 127–28; decision-making role of, 124–25; mind-body, 121, 124–25, 126–27, 132–33, 152
dual model of reasoning, 244–46
duplication: attachment item experiment on, 211–13; essentialism implications of, 215–17; hamster experiment on, 216 fig–17; The Prestige (film) treatment of, 214–15
eBay “soul” sale, 101
Einstein, Albert, 22
Einsteinian baby image, 76–80
“élan vital” (life force), 139, 150
“the Elephant Man,” 136
Elgin Marbles, 202
Elizabeth II, Queen (England), 212, 213
Emin, Tracy, 204
emotional reactions: brain amygdala/ventral striatum structures and, 230; decision-making fueled by, 194–95; disgust as, 28–29; to duplications, 211–13; to killer’s cardigan stunt, 21–22, 27–28, 29; to risk, 27–28; Rozin’s research on evil and, 28, 29; to security blankets and attachment items, 208–11 fig; seeking out other’s, 253; sex and related, 184–87; social encounters triggering, 167–70
The End of Faith (Harris), 64
English soccer mass mentality, 24
environment: atheists and influence of, 65–67; conditioning by association of events in, 82–86; impact on beliefs by, 102–4; twin studies on influence of, 66–67; wiring of the brain and the, 65
epilepsy experiments, 125
essence of life, 143–45. See also life force
essentialism: biological implications of, 176; cannibalistic, 176–79; cellular memories and, 179–84; children’s essentialist thinking, 145–46; contamination response and, 169–70; contemporary art context of, 203–6; duplication and implications of, 215–17; genetic manipulation in context of, 146–50; psychological, 139, 143–44, 145; sexual, 184–87
eternal youth myths, 172–74
Euclid, 224
Evans, Margaret, 61
“evil eye,” 225
evil objects: contamination response to, 21–32; exorcism of, 32
evolutionary psychology, 9–10
evolutionary theory, 57–60, 62
exorcism rites, 32, 185
explicit reasoning, 244–46
Faces in the Cloud (Guthrie), 111
faces/facial expressions, 109 fig–12. See also gaze
Fairchild, Lydia, 174–75
falling cannonballs experiment, 19
fantasy figure beliefs, 5–6, 48
Fearnley-Whittingstall, Hugh, 173–74
Fellows of Royal Society, 62
female bank worker case, 50 fig–51, 242
Fergie, 208
Fludd, Robert, 154
The Fly (film), 147
folk medicine, 155
Fonda, Jane, 184
foods: magical, 155; phallic-shaped, 155–56
Ford, Harrison, 16
fountain of youth myths, 172–74
foxglove plant (digitalis), 155
Francis of Assisi, St., 192
freaks/freak shows, 135–38, 174–76
free will: belief in, 67, 121; decision-making and, 123–24; mind-body dualism and, 121, 124–25, 126–27, 132–33, 152; mind experience of, 126. See also moral behavior
Fregoli’s syndrome, 219
Freud, Sigmund, 225
frontal lobes, 27, 76, 240
“Gaia” theory of ecology, 138
Gallup poll (2005), 34–35, 42–43, 64, 102
galvanic skin response, 26–27
Gammons, Ian, 179–80, 181, 184
Gammons, Lynda, 179, 181, 184
gaze: Big Brother’s, 232–34; communication through the, 229–32; fascination of another’s, 225–27; of love (innamoramento), 225; machine for measuring energy of, 226 fig; social power of the, 115–17; unseen, 224, 227–29, 232–34. See also faces/facial expressions
gender differences: in mind-reading, 108; in security blankets and attachment items, 210
genetic engineering, 146–50
Gestalt psychology, pattern perception of, 10–11, 86
ghost beliefs, 234
Gilbert, Dan, 69–70
goat gonad treatment, 188–91
The God Delusion (Dawkins), 46–47
God Is Not Great (Hitchens), 66
God’s “Great Chain of Being” concept, 153–55
God’s “Great Chain of Being” (Fludd diagram), 154 fig–55
Goldenpalace.com, 112
Good Samaritan, 117–18
grasp reflex, 75 fig, 76, 87–88
“gravity error” experiment, 94 fig–96
greeting rituals, 68
Gregory, Richard, 11
groups: children’s socialization into society, 253; common beliefs uniting, 164–65; market-driven decision-making undermining cohesion of, 251–52; “social glue” of, 23–25. See also social connectedness
The Guardian, 85
guilt, 233–34
guilt trip theory, 234
Guolizhuang (Beijing restaurant), 155–56
“gut feelings,” 25–29
Guthrie, Stewart, 111
Hahnemann, Samuel, 157
Haidt, Jonathan, 163
hallucinations: dopamine induced, 237–39; schizophrenia and auditory, 234
Hamer, Dean, 66–67
hamster duplication experiment, 216 fig–17
Hanks, Tom, 198
Harding, J. R., 110
Harrelson, Woody, 251
Harris, Sam, 64
“Henry” vacuum cleaner, 119 fig–20
hermaphrodites, 176
Hitchens, Christopher, 66, 67
Hitchens, Peter, 65–66, 67
HIV/AIDS pandemic, 186–87
Hoffman, Albert, 31
Hohlenstein-Stadel “Lion-Man,” 40 fig–41
holism, 139
Holocaust (World War II), 201–2, 251
holy water, 192–93
homeopathy, 157–59
Homo psychologicus, 104–5
Homo sapiens, 104, 108
honesty, 233–34
Hongi (Maori greeting ritual), 68
Hood, Kim, 1, 37, 51
horror stories: Countess Báthory, 171–72; Dracula story, 170–71
Hughes, Howard, 52
Human Fertilization and Embryology Bill (UK), 148
Hume, David, 99, 111
Humphrey, Nick, 104
Hurricane Katrina, 69
Hussein, Saddam, 17
ideal forms theory, 143–44
identity: Capgras syndrome and delusional, 218–19; identical twins and unique, 215–16; through the mind, 128–30
“If You Want to Get Ahead, Get a Theory” (Karmiloff-Smith and Inhelder), 92–93
images: Einsteinian baby, 76–80; prehistoric art, 39–41. See also symbolism
“Imagine” (Lennon), 69
inanimate objects: essential unique properties taken on by, 220–21; evil, 21–32; intuitive theories used to understand, 90–92; magic trick experiments on, 88–90; rules for decoding reality of, 90; as security blankets and attachment items, 208–13; twenty questions game on, 91. See also living things; reality
incest, 162–63
Indecent Proposal (film), 251
Inhelder, Barbel, 92
“the intentional stance,” 118–20
International Congress of Surgeons in London, 190
intuitive reasoning: beliefs connected to, 33–36; beliefs developed through knowledge generated by, 7–8, 33–36, 46–55, 73–76, 246–48; confusion due to, 176; contamination response as, 21–31; dementia as evidence of, 243–44; description of, 25–29; examining ability to ignore, 239–43; as fertile soil for creationism, 60–61; Marjaana Lindeman’s research on, 245–46. See also reasoning
intuitive theories: used by babies to understand natural world, 90–92; children’s reality misconceptions due to their, 96–100; “gravity error” experiment and, 94 fig–96; supersense created through, 223; young children’s use of, 92–96
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (film), 144
Iraq war (1991), 17
“Irish dirt,” 193
Jacobsen, Tommy “Twinkle Toes,” 197
Jagger, Mick, 112
James, William, 4–5, 20, 74, 219, 249
Jenkins, Alan, 193
Jewish dietary law, 139–40
Kaniza figure, 10 fig–11
Kant, Immanuel, 73
Karmiloff-Smith, Annette, 92
Kass, Leon, 162
Keegan, Karen, 175
Kennedy, John F., 69
“ki” (life force), 139
killer’s cardigan stunt, 21–22, 27–28, 29, 101, 160, 163, 170
King, Brian, 4
King, Martin Luther Jr., 69
knowledge: beliefs from intuitive reasoning and, 7–8, 33–36, 46–55, 73–76, 246–48; blank-slate metaphor of, 80–82, 86–87; modern advances in scientific, 42
Kopi Luwak (gourmet coffee), 28, 143
Krebbs, Indi-Mo, 173
Krebs’s cycle, 138, 139, 150, 151
Kukukukus tribe (Papua New Guinea), 177–78
Kuru disease, 176–77
Ladies’ Home Journal, 84
Lady Seated at a Vestral (Vermeer), 203
LaGrone, Libra, 69
The Lancet (Russ), 226
language: CIA machine speech recognition experiments with, 80–81; descriptions using liquidized, 167; invisible laws governing organization of, 85–86. See also communication
Lascaux caves (Dordogne region), 202–3
Laurel’s “Mouse” wanted poster, 209 fig–10
law of infinitesimals, 157
law of similars, 157
Le Bon, Gustav, 24
Le Loyer, Pierre, 2
Lennon, John, 69
Levi-Leleu, Michel, 201–2
Levi-Leleu, Pierre, 201, 202
Leviticus 11:4–8, 140
Lewis-Williams, David, 37, 39
life force: ancient belief of, 138–39, 150; children’s understanding of, 152–53; death as absence of, 151–52; God’s “Great Chain of Being” belief on, 153–55; Greek’s belief on essential, 153. See also vitalism
Life magazine, 80
Limbic system, 26
Linda the bank worker case, 50 fig–51, 242
Linderman, Marjaana, 245
Linus (Peanuts character), 209
“Lion-Man” (Hohlenstein-Stadel), 40 fig–41
“Little Albert” experiments, 52, 53–54, 80, 181
Livett, Chris, 206
living things: early childhood understanding of, 141–43; essence of life in, 143–45; life force of, 138–39, 150–53. See also inanimate objects
Locke, John, 81, 86
London School of Tropical Medicine, 159
love chemistry, 112–13
love gaze (innamoramento), 225
Lovelock, James, 138
Macbeth effect, 31, 185
McConnell, James, 181, 182
Macdougall, Duncan, 151
McEnroe, John, 15
McNally, Raymond, 171
magical contagion: evil objects, 21–32; Mister Rogers’ cardigan and, 214. See also contamination response
magical ideation questionnaire, 235–37
magical thinking: childhood belief in, 100–101; cultural impact on, 101–2; evolution from childhood to adult, 102–4; modern homeopathy legacy of, 157–59; psychotic mental illness and, 234–37
Magic Johnson, 100, 115
magic trick experiments, 88–90
Malham, Gareth, 101
“mana” (life force), 139
mandrake roots, 155
mania disorder, 234, 239
Marlar, Richard, 177
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 85
mass mentality, 24
The Matrix (film), 86–87, 144
Matthias II, King, 172
medical treatment: goat gonads, 188–91; placebo effect and, 158–59; “weapon salve,” 187–88
medicine: Chinese, 156–57; “Doctrine of Signatures” on folk, 155; modern homeopathy, 157–59
Medusa, 225
Meegeren, Han van, 203
Meiwes, Armin, 178–79
memorabilia. See collecting memorabilia
memory: Alzheimer’s disease and, 148, 243–44; process of working, 240–42
mental illness, 234–37
Merrick, Joseph (“the Elephant Man”), 136
The Metamorphosis (Kafka), 129
metaphysical beliefs, 139
mind: as “black box,” 83; created by the brain, 132–33; identity through the, 128–30; as operating system of the brain, 81–82
mind-body dualism, 121, 124–25, 126–27, 132–33, 152
The Mind in the Cave (Lewis-Williams), 37, 39
mind design: description of, 9; development in children, 18–19, 99–100; early scholarship on, 99; evolutionary psychology and, 9–10; modern experiences with, 41–46; patterns of organizing input and, 10–14; prehistoric art examples of, 37–41. See also brain
mind-reading: by animals, 117; facial expressions as start of, 109 fig–12; gaze and, 115–17; gender differences in, 108; as intuitive skill, 108–9
Minsky, Marvin, 80
missing-square pattern, 10 fig–11
Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood (TV show), 213–14
Montague, Read, 237
Moore, Demi, 251
moral behavior: dualism and, 121–22; “the intentional stance” for, 118–20; origins of Good Samaritan, 117–18. See also actions; free will
“Moro” reflex (startle response), 75–76
morphic resonance, 232
“mosaicism” condition, 136, 176
Moss, Kate, 109
mouse with implanted bioframe, 149 fig–50
movement: “shapka” experiment with, 114–15; social connectiveness and, 113–14
Mussolini, Benito, 225
My Bed (Emin), 204
Native American sacred objects, 202
natural selection theory, 57–60, 62
Nature (journal), 191
Neighbors (Australian soap), 77
Neil the Hippie (The Young Ones), 15
newborns: blank-slate metaphor of, 81–82, 86–87; examining “brilliant,” 76–80; facial expressions and, 109 fig–10; grasp reflex of, 75 fig, 76, 87–88; reflexes of, 74–76; world experienced by, 74. See also babies; children
New England Journal of Medicine, 175
Newton’s Laws of Object Motion, 19
NHS (National Health Service) [UK], 158
Niaux cave (French Pyrenees): description of, 37–38, 203; The Mind in the Cave on meaning found in, 39–41; salon noir (black exhibition hall) of, 38–39
Nicorette, 158
9/11, 56
1984 (Orwell), 233
nipplewort (lapsana communis), 155
“The Numskulls” (cartoon), 122–23 fig, 125, 127, 168, 229
obsessive behavior: obsessive hand-washing as, 52; rituals as, 15–16
obsessive-compulsive disorder, 16
The Office (TV show), 174
Oklahoma City bombing site, 69
Olympic Sydney Games (2000), 136
Onassis, Jackie Kennedy, 199
“once in contact, always in contact” principle of, 161–62
The Onion (publication), 80
opposable thumbs, 144
organ transplant patients: cellular memories of, 179–84; contagion, racism, and bigotry issues and, 182–84
originality: emotional basis of sense of, 220; identical replacements vs., 205–6; issues of proportion of, 206–7; provenance used to prove, 203; of Sam’s “quiggle,” 207–8
Orwell, George, 232–33
“out of sight, out of mind” reality, 86–87, 88
oxytocin, 112
Paracelsus, 187
patterns: apophenia sensing of meaningful, 235; creative process and ability to perceive, 239; of events, 11–14; Gestalt psychology on organization of, 10–11, 86; missing-square, 10 fig–11. See also reality
Pavlov, Ivan, 82
Peanuts (comic strip), 209
Penfield, Wilder, 125
persecution, 235
Peter II, King (Yugoslavia), 193–94
Petrarch, 225
Pfeiffer, Michelle, 16
phallic-shaped foods, 155–56
phobias: definition of, 51–52; “Little Albert” experiment on, 52; origins and development, 52–54; preparedness theory of, 54
Piaget, Jean, 86, 88, 97, 101
pilewort (lesser celandine), 155
Pinker, Steven, 9, 124
placebo effect, 158–59
plants: “Doctrine of Signatures” on medical, 155; phallic-shaped, 155
Plato, 143–44, 224
Plimmer, Martin, 4
Plutarch, 206–7
Polidori, John William, 171
post hoc, ergo propter hoc (after this, therefore because of this), 231
prehistoric art: Lascaux caves (Dordogne region), 202–3; “Lion-Man” (Hohlenstein-Stadel), 40–41; The Mind in the Cave on symbols and images of, 39–41; of Niaux cave (French Pyrenees), 37–39, 203; “Venus” figurines, 41
preparedness theory of phobias, 54
The Prestige (film), 214–15
“psychic secretion,” 82
psychology: behaviorism school of, 82–86; essentialism, 139, 143–44, 146–50; Gestalt, 10–11, 86–87
psychotic mental illness, 234–37
punishment and reinforcement, 83–86
Quinn, Marc, 204
“quintessence,” 153
Quirkology (Wiseman), 32
racism, 183
Rand, James, ix rational thinking, 245, 250
Raynor, Rosalie, 52, 54, 75 fig
reality: confirmation bias of, 230–31; creativity linked to altered sense of, 239; dissociated disorders distorting, 218–19; essentialism’s ideal forms approach to, 139, 143–44; intuitive theories used to understand, 90–92; “magic tricks” attention and, 88–90; “out of sight, out of mind” sense of, 86–87, 88; rules followed by babies to decode, 89–90; supernatural thinking to explain, 96–105, 252–53. See also inanimate objects; patterns
reasoning: supersense and dual model of, 244–46; two different types of, 244. See also intuitive reasoning
Redford, Robert, 251
Regina Apostolorum (Vatican), 32
reinforcement and punishment, 83–86
religion: Christian fundamentalism, 56–57; connection between the supernatural, and, 20; Dawkin’s condemnation of, 7, 46–47; as form of supernaturalism, 68; overlap between science, the supernatural, and, 46
religious beliefs: adolescent adoption of family, 103–4; afterlife, 130–32, 234; compared to viruses and parasites, 49; creationism, 56–57, 60–62, 98; examining the origins and spread of, 46–55; God’s “Great Chain of Being,” 153–55; of scientists, 62–64; VMAT2 gene linked to individuals with, 66–67. See also beliefs; sacred values; supernatural beliefs
religious supernatural beliefs: description of, 42; holy water, 192–93; secular vs., 42–43
“reptilian” brain, 26
Resolution 111, 213
risk, 26–27
rituals: athletic, 14–15; cultural practice of, 6; evidence of everyday, 68–70; exorcism, 32, 185; Hongi (Maori greeting ritual), 68; illusion of control reinforced by, 16–18; providing illusion of control, 15–16; Skinner’s experiments with birds and, 83–84; supernatural belief basis of, 16–18. See also actions; behavior; supernatural beliefs
Road Runner cartoons, 95
Robocop (film), 128
Rogers, Fred, 213–14
“royal touch” belief, 191–92
Rozin, Paul, 28, 29, 160
Russ, Charles, 226, 227
Ryder, Winona, 16
Saatchi, Charles, 204, 205
sacred soil, 193–94
sacred values: individual and personal calculation of, 251; social connectedness conveyed through, 191–94, 253. See also religious beliefs; supernatural beliefs
Sagan, Carl, 250
salon noir (Niaux cave black exhibition hall), 38–39
Sam’s “quiggle,” 207–8
Sanner, Margareta, 183–84
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), 156–57
schizophrenia, 234, 236
science: biological manipulation through genetic, 146–50; modern advances in, 42; morphic resonance phenomena supported by, 232; overlap between religion, the supernatural, an, 46; public fear of, 43–45; secular supernatural beliefs and, 42–46
Science (journal), 227
scientists, religious beliefs, 62–64
Scopes monkey trial (1925), 57
secondary sexual characteristics, 190
secular supernatural beliefs: Gallup poll (2005) on, 42–43; religious vs., 42
security blankets: duplicating experiments on, 211–13; emotional importance of, 208–11 fig
The Selfish Gene (Dawkins), 58
Self (Quinn), 204 fig–5
Seligman, Martin, 54
September 11th, 56
Seuss, Dr., 77
Sex and the City (TV show), 117
sex hormones treatments, 189–91
Sexton, Jacob, 31
sexual attraction: “chemistry” of, 113; cultural influences on, 186; experiments regarding, 168
sexual intercourse: contamination response to, 185–87; danger of supernatural reasoning regarding, 186–87; essentialism response to, 184–87
“shapka” experiment, 114–15
Shelley, Mary, 171
Shermer, Michael, 3
Shoah Memorial Center (Paris), 202
similia, similibus curantur (law of similars), 157
Sinatra, Frank, 113
Singer, Isaac Bashevis, 67
Skinner, B. F., 83–85
Skinner, Deborah, 84–85
“Slinky,” 114
Smuts, Barbara, 116
snake phobias, 54
social connectedness: through cellular memories, 179–84; chemistry element of, 112–13; facial gaze and, 115–17; judgments as colored by, 167; sacred values conveying sense of, 191–94, 253; sexual intercourse and, 184–87; timing and movement elements of, 113–15; triggers for emotional responses to, 168–70. See also contamination response; groups
“social glue”: definition and function of, 23–24; as heuristic for interacting with others, 24–25; mass mentality and, 24
society: children’s socialization into, 253; common beliefs uniting, 164–65; market-driven decision-making undermining, 251–52; social glue of, 23–25. See also culture
Society of Homeopathy (UK), 159
“something there” reality: the origins of, 37–41; universal believe in, 4–5
“Sophie’s choice,” 251
souls: animals believed to be without, 151; belief in the, 151; eBay sale of, 101
Spelke, Liz, 89
Spencer, Herbert, 58
spirit beliefs, 234
staring behavior. See unseen gaze
startle response (“Moro” reflex), 75–76
stepping reflex, 74–75
Steve Vee Bransgrove Collectables (Frome), 200 fig
Stoker, Bram, 170
storytelling contrast effect, 55
Styron, William, 251
Subbotsky, Eugene, 100–101
sucking reflex, 74
supernatural: bizarre experiences believed proof of, 1–4; connection between religion and the, 20; contrast effect of stories on the, 55; overlap between science, religion, and, 46
supernatural beliefs: anthropomorphism as, 98–99; culture as root of, 6–7, 63–64, 71; dual model of reasoning and, 244–46; evidence of everyday, 68–70; Gallup poll (2005) on, 34–35, 42–43, 64, 102; guilt trip theory on ghost, 234; intuitive reasoning, knowledge, and, 7–8, 33–36, 46–55, 73–76, 246–48; magical thinking of, 100–104, 157–59, 234–37; plausibility of, 8–9; reality explained through, 96–105, 252–53; religion as form of, 68; religious vs. secular, 42–43; rituals based on, 16–18; sacred soil and, 193–94; “Supers” vs. “Brights” believers of, 64–65. See also beliefs; religious beliefs; rituals; sacred values
supersense: beliefs and experiences characterizing, 237; benefits of, 248, 249–53; common experiences of, 223–25; dual model of reasoning and, 244–46; intuitive theories creating, 223; as natural product of human brain, 237, 239; psychiatric disorders connections to, 235–37; research into brain mechanisms of the, 238–39
Sylvia, Claire, 180–81
symbiosis, 138, 139
symbolism: of Lennon’s piano, 69; of Mister Rogers’s cardigan, 213–14; prehistoric art animal, 39–41; of security blankets and attachment items, 208–11 fig. See also images
taboo beliefs, 162–63, 252
Teresa, Mother, 32
Tesla, Nikola, 215
Tetlock, Philip, 250
Theseus’ ship, 206–7
Times Higher Education Supplement (UK publication), 157–58
The Times (newspaper), 190
Titchener, Edward, 227
top ten factoids, 32–33
Townsend, Jamie, 174
transplant patients: cellular memories of, 179–84; contagion, racism, and bigotry issues and, 182–84
“the Transported Man” stage illusion, 214–15
turmeric root, 155
Turner Art Prize (1999), 204
TV Dinners (TV show), 173
“20Q” (electronic hand-held game), 91
twenty questions game, 91
twins: absorbed, 174–76; unique identities of identical, 215–16
twin studies, 66–67, 174
UCLA’s Institute for Child Development study (fictional), 79–80
“unclean” animals, 139–40
universal grammar, 85–86
unseen gaze: common concerns about the, 232–34; developing sense of the, 228–29; power of the, 224, 227–28
U.S. Department of Agriculture, 43
U.S. National Academy of Sciences, 62
Vadim, Roger, 184
vampire myth, 170–72
Vauvenargues, Marquis de, 90
“Venus” figurines, 41
Vermeer authentication, 203
“vibes,” 25–29
“virgin cure” myth, 186
Virginia Tech shooting site, 69
vision beliefs, 224–25
vitalism: ancient belief of, 138–39, 150; goat gonad doctor’s application of, 188–91. See also life force
vital life energies, 138
“Vlad the Impaler,” 170–71
VMAT2 gene, 66–67
Voronoff, Serge, 190–91
Vyse, Stuart, 6
Waco, 69
Walsh, Stella, 135–36
Walt Disney Company, 78
Wari tribe (South America), 177
“water cooler conversations,” 32–33
Watson, John, 52, 53–54, 75 fig, 80, 83, 181
“weapon salve” treatment, 187–88
Wegner, Dan, 18, 126
West, Fred, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, 30
“What Are Friends For?” (Smuts), 116
“The Wisdom of Repugnance” (Kass), 162
Wiseman, Richard, 32
working memory, 240–42
World War II Holocaust, 201–2, 251
Young British Art movement (1990s), 204
The Young Ones (BBC broadcast), 15
Young, Pamela, 210–11 fig
Young, Rabbi Roderick, 210, 211
Zoological Society of London survey (2005), 51