Myth as Model: Group-Level Interpretive Frameworks
Published in Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2025
Recommended citation: Moser, C. (2025). Myth as Model: Group-Level Interpretive Frameworks. [commentary on Sijilmasi et al.] Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 47. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/behavioral-and-brain-sciences/article/abs/myth-as-model-grouplevel-interpretive-frameworks/E0299FD5845F216EBD03DC62B60E0191
I argue that while recruitment might explain some of the design features of historical myths, origin myths in general more importantly provide shared narrative frameworks for aligning and coordination members of a group. Furthermore, by providing in-group members with shared frameworks for interfacing with the world, the contents of myths likely facilitate the selection of belief systems at the group-level.