Boyer & Lienard (2008)

Focus

• They question why humans engage in ritualised behaviour, which they define as repetitive highly structured actions with no clear practical goal

Main argument

• Ritual behaviour in OCD, child development, and cultural rituals stems from the same evolved cognitive–neurological systems

• This being vigilance-precaution mechanisms

OCD and ritual behaviour

• The brain’s inhibitory systems are too weak and vigilance networks are too loud

• Leads to persistent threat thoughts + compulsive repetition

Vigilance - precaution systems

• Threat management systems that identify potential danger

• Normally stop after a feeling of completion is achieved - in OCD this mechanisms fails

Themes of threats

• Compulsion tends to focus on themes that cannot be 100% disproved e.g germs/ contamination

• Also explains why the peak around times like early parenthood -  when such vigilance would be evolutionary most valuable.

How does ritualised behaviour effect cognition

• Shifts attention from overall goals to engaging in precise gestures/sequences

• This overloads the working memory and suppresses thoughts, reducing anxiety

Link to cultural rituals

• Cultural rituals share OCD features (goal-centred, repetitive ect)

• These rituals activate danger precaution systems by framing the ceremony around danger and necessary responses

Impact

• Makes cultural rituals more compelling, which is an advantage for social transmission

Overall point

• Ritual behaviour is not just symbolic but an evolutionary framework responding to perceived threats

Ritual as symbol

• This offers a counterpoint to Douglas, Turner, and Beidelman who interpret ritual symbolically transmitting sacred knowledge

• Boyer and Liénard locate its origins in evolutionary neurocognition.