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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 January 2025
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 coordinating 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.
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Target article
“Our roots run deep”: Historical myths as culturally evolved technologies for coalitional recruitment
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