Are the pathogens of out-groups really more dangerous?

Mícheál de Barra; Val Curtis

doi:10.1017/S0140525X11000975

Are the pathogens of out-groups really more dangerous?

Behav Brain Sci. 2012 Apr;35(2):85-6. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X11000975. Epub 2012 Jan 31.

Authors

Mícheál de Barra¹, Val Curtis

Affiliation

¹ The Hygiene Centre, Department of Disease Control, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London WC1E 7HT, United Kingdom. micheal.debarra@lshtm.ac.uk

PMID: 22289301
DOI: 10.1017/S0140525X11000975

Abstract

We question the plausibility of Fincher & Thornhill's (F&T's) argument that localised pathogen-host coevolution leads to out-groups having pathogens more damaging than those infecting one's own family or religious group.

Publication types

Comment

MeSH terms

Communicable Diseases / psychology*
Family Relations*
Humans
Parasitic Diseases / psychology*
Religion and Psychology*
Social Behavior*
Stress, Psychological*