title: Religion and psychosis: a common evolutionary trajectory?
abstract: In this article we propose that schizophrenia and religious cognition engage cognate mental modules in the over-attribution of agency and the overextension of theory of mind. We argue similarities and differences between assumptions of ultrahuman agents with omniscient minds and certain ''pathological'' forms of thinking in schizophrenia: thought insertion, withdrawal and broadcasting, and delusions of reference. In everyday religious cognition agency detection and theory of mind modules function ''normally,'' whereas in schizophrenia both modules are impaired. It is suggested that religion and schizophrenia have perhaps had a related evolutionary trajectory.
authors: Department of Mental Health Sciences, University College London, Charles Bell House, 67 Riding House Street, London WC1 7EY, UK. s.dein@ucl.ac.uk
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Dein
authors: Roland
authors: R
authors: Littlewood
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D003702:Delusions / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D056345:Theory of Mind / Q000502:physiology*