God's punishment and public goods

Human Nature • Vol/Iss. 16 • Published In • Pages: 410-446 •
By Johnson, Dominic D.P.

Abstract

This study tests the relationship between supernatural punishment (indexed by the importance of moralizing "high gods") and several proxy measures of cooperation. Results suggest that the presence of high gods is associated with money and credit, credit source, community size, jurisdictional hierarchy beyond the local community, and sanctions.

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Standard Cross Cultural Sample (SCCS)Other Researchers

Hypotheses (9)

HypothesisSupported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be larger (420).Supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be more compliant with social norms and decisions (421).Not Supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be more able to lend money and use abstract media of exchange (421).Supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be more loyal to the local and wider community (421).Not Supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be more sharing with food (421).Not Supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will have centralized enforcement and sanctioning systems (421).Partially supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be more likely to pay taxes (421).Partially supported
Societies in which high gods are more active and concerned with human morality will be less likely to experience internal conflict (421).Not Supported
In a multiple regression model, presence of high gods will be positively associated with money and credit, credit source, community size, jurisdictional hierarchy beyond the local community, and sanctions (426).Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: Kate Cummings  Megan Farrer