Uploaded March 2024 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Riddell Lectures 1: What makes cultural innovations attractive? Lessons from the cognitive science of religion

Justin L Barrett, founder and president of Blueprint 1543

Many new technologies spread so broadly and deeply that they are difficult to uproot once their negative impacts are better understood. How, then, might we estimate which technological innovations are likely to spread relatively quickly and become deeply entrenched in human lives? The cognitive science of religion has enabled us to better understand why some forms of cultural expression are attractive to individuals and groups. Psychological ‘naturalness’ leads to cultural attractiveness, helping innovations to spread broadly and deeply.

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