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Memory and Mystery: The Cultural Selection of Minimally Counterintuitive Narratives
Author(s) -
Norenzayan Ara,
Atran Scott,
Faulkner Jason,
Schaller Mark
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
cognitive science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.498
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1551-6709
pISSN - 0364-0213
DOI - 10.1207/s15516709cog0000_68
Subject(s) - counterintuitive , narrative , cognition , cognitive psychology , mythology , psychology , cultural memory , collective memory , storytelling , cognitive science , sociology , literature , epistemology , art , anthropology , philosophy , theology , neuroscience
We hypothesize that cultural narratives such as myths and folktales are more likely to achieve cultural stability if they correspond to a minimally counterintuitive (MCI) cognitive template that includes mostly intuitive concepts combined with a minority of counterintuitive ones. Two studies tested this hypothesis, examining whether this template produces a memory advantage, and whether this memory advantage explains the cultural success of folktales. In a controlled laboratory setting, Study 1 found that an MCI template produces a memory advantage after a 1‐week delay, relative to entirely intuitive or maximally counterintuitive cognitive templates. Using archival methods, Study 2 examined the cognitive structure of Grimm Brothers folktales. Compared to culturally unsuccessful folktales, those that were demonstrably successful were especially likely to fit an MCI template. These findings highlight the role of human memory processes in cultural evolution.