Religion is a product of evolutionary and biological processes. Thus, understanding why some people are religious and how it impacts their everyday lives requires an integrated perspective. This review presents a theoretical framework incorporating recent findings on religious influences on the behavioral expression of genetic and psychological predispositions. We propose that religion may facilitate ego dampening, or weakening of the impact of one's internal drive, for the service of sociality. Evidence from gene-environment interaction and behavioral studies suggests that religious beliefs and practices may dampen more prepotent, self-focused motives that can be at odds with cooperation and social cohesion. The review underscores the importance of taking an interdisciplinary perspective to understand complex and fundamental questions about religion.

中文翻译：

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宗教对自我的抑制作用：来自行为遗传学和心理学的证据

宗教是进化和生物过程的产物。因此，要理解为什么有些人是宗教徒，以及宗教信仰如何影响他们的日常生活，需要有一个综合的观点。这项审查提供了一个理论框架，其中纳入了有关宗教对遗传和心理倾向的行为表达的宗教影响的最新发现。我们建议宗教可以为社会服务而促进自我的抑制或削弱人的内在动力的影响。基因-环境相互作用和行为研究的证据表明，宗教信仰和习俗可能会削弱更突出的，以自我为中心的动机，这可能与合作和社会凝聚力背道而驰。