Spiritual over physical formidability determines willingness to fight and sacrifice through loyalty in cross-cultural populations.

ABSTRACT: Across 11 studies involving six countries from four continents (n = 3,285), we extend insights from field investigations in conflict zones to offline and online surveys to show that personal spiritual formidability-the conviction and immaterial resources (values, strengths of beliefs, character) of a person to fight-is positively associated with the will to fight and sacrifice for others. The physical formidability of groups in conflict has long been promoted as the primary factor in human decisions to fight or flee in times of conflict. Here, studies in Spain, Iraq, Lebanon, Palestine, and Morocco reveal that personal spiritual formidability, a construct distinct from religiosity, is more strongly associated with the willingness to fight and make costly self-sacrifices for the group than

SUBMITTER: Tossell CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8833214 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature