New item in the Archive for Religion and Cognition:


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Author(s): Kelemen, Deborah; Rosset, Evelyn
Title: The Human Function Compunction: Teleological explanation in adults
Category: published article
Length: 6
Keywords: teleology; explanation; function; design

Abstract: Research has found that children possess a broad bias in favor of
teleological -- or purpose-based -- explanations of natural phenomena. The
current two experiments explored whether adults implicitly possess a similar
bias. In Study 1, undergraduates judged a series
of statements as "good" (i.e., correct) or "bad" (i.e., incorrect) explanations
for why different phenomena occur. Judgments occurred in one of three
conditions: fast speeded, moderately
speeded, or unspeeded. Participants in speeded conditions judged significantly
more scientifically unwarranted teleological explanations as correct (e.g., "the
sun radiates heat because warmth nurtures life"), but were not more error-prone
on control items (e.g.,
unwarranted physical explanations such as "hills form because floodwater
freezes"). Study 2 extended these findings by examining the relationship between
different aspects of
adults? "promiscuous teleology" and other variables such as scientific
knowledge, religious beliefs, and inhibitory control. Implications of these
findings for scientific literacy are discussed.

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