Jesse Bering Books
Jesse Bering is an American psychologist and science writer known for his work on the cognitive science of religion and human behavior. He has written extensively on the psychology of belief, morality, and sexuality, and his research has been featured in major scientific and popular publications.
Known for: The Belief Instinct: The Psychology of Souls, Destiny, and the Meaning of Life
Books by Jesse Bering
The Belief Instinct: The Psychology of Souls, Destiny, and the Meaning of Life
In this thought-provoking work, evolutionary psychologist Jesse Bering explores the origins of human belief in gods, souls, and destiny. He argues that these beliefs are not arbitrary but evolved as adaptive illusions that helped our ancestors navigate complex social environments. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and evolutionary theory, Bering examines how our minds are predisposed to see purpose and intention in the world around us.
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The Theory of Mind
Everything begins with our capacity to imagine what others think. This is the evolutionary triumph known as Theory of Mind. It allows us to infer that when our friend reaches for the apple, she wants to eat it; that when a rival stares across the fire, he harbors suspicion. This mental modeling evol...
From The Belief Instinct: The Psychology of Souls, Destiny, and the Meaning of Life
Evolutionary Roots of Belief
From an evolutionary perspective, this over-interpretation of agency had clear survival benefits. False positives—assuming there is an agent when there isn’t—are much less costly than false negatives—failing to recognize a real threat. The cognitive architecture that made us jump at shadows also mad...
From The Belief Instinct: The Psychology of Souls, Destiny, and the Meaning of Life
About Jesse Bering
Jesse Bering is an American psychologist and science writer known for his work on the cognitive science of religion and human behavior. He has written extensively on the psychology of belief, morality, and sexuality, and his research has been featured in major scientific and popular publications.
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Jesse Bering is an American psychologist and science writer known for his work on the cognitive science of religion and human behavior. He has written extensively on the psychology of belief, morality, and sexuality, and his research has been featured in major scientific and popular publications.
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