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Do religious people have better visual perception?
by Scott Gilbreath ~ November 16th, 2008
Not just religious people in general but, specifically, Calvinists.
New Scientist reports an intriguing study on religion and perception of physical reality. Bernhard Hommel, Head of the Cognitive Psychology Unit, University of Leiden, has found evidence that Calvinists have better visual perception skills than do atheists. The visual acuity of 40 Calvinists and 40 atheists was tested.
On a computer screen, Hommel’s team showed participants a large triangle or square made of either smaller triangles or squares. The volunteers had to focus on either the big object or its component shapes, and indicate whether they were square or triangular.
Both groups recognised the large shapes more quickly than small, embedded ones, but the Calvinists picked out the smaller shapes 30 milliseconds faster than atheists, on average – a small, but significant, difference.
This could reflect a greater focus on self than external distractions for Calvinists, says Hommel.
He suggests it may even be a cognitive consequence of their religion and speculates that Calvinists might be more inward looking than atheists because they have lived their whole lives with an emphasis on minding their own business.
Calvinists mind their own business? I didn’t know that—and I have definite Calvinist sympathies.
University of British Columbia social psychologist Ara Norenzayan says this new finding fits well with earlier studies.
“Their finding is consistent with the literature on cross-cultural cognition – that cultural traditions involving independent view of the self, such as Calvinism, encourage a more feature-based processing style.”
I encourage everyone to take a look at Dr Hommel’s website. Whatever one thinks of the man’s research, his site is appealingly odd.
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November 16th, 2008 at 10:49 PM
Calvinists have better visual perception skills
Maybe its because their eyes have been opened…
November 17th, 2008 at 09:20 AM
Ya, eyes opened to the bondage they’re in. The Lord saith, come out form her my people
November 17th, 2008 at 05:18 PM
Maybe it means atheists’ eyes are not as open.
November 17th, 2008 at 08:43 PM
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