Exploring the psychological origin of religious beliefs: A re-examination of the "Theory of Mind hypothesis"

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14370
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 10010:Social psychology-related
• Research Institution: Japan Women's University (2022); Waseda University (2019-2021)
• Principal Investigator: ISHII Tatsunori 日本女子大学, 人間社会学部, 准教授 (40708989)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 宗教的信念 / 心の理論 / 共感的関心

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mentalizing ability is the cognitive foundation of belief in supernatural agents or religious belief. To test this "mentalizing hypothesis," we recruited large samples of Japanese adults and children. We also assessed mentalizing ability from multiple perspectives using the Empathy Quotient (EQ, Baron-Cohen & Wheelwright, 2004), the Reading Minds in the Eyes test (RMET, Baron-Cohen et al., 2001), and the Empathic Concern subscale of the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI-EC, Davis, 1983). As a result, the EQ and the IRI-EC showed a stronger relationship (i.e., effect size) to the individual differences in religious belief, rather than the RMET. We discussed that the emotional aspect of mentalizing plays an important role in the development of religious beliefs.

Free Research Field

社会心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

神仏や精霊などの超自然的存在が存在すると信じる気持ちを宗教的信念と呼ぶ。この宗教的信念がどのような心的基盤から形成されているのかを探るための研究を実施した。その結果、生物・非生物問わずに対象の動きに「心」を見出す能力である「心の理論」の関与が認められた。特に、対象の心に注意を向けてしまう人ほど、物理的実体としては存在しないはずの神仏や精霊を心を持つ存在と認識する結果、「存在する」と信じる可能性が示唆された。