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Cleansing and separation procedures reflect resource concerns

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 February 2021

Simone Schnall
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 3EB, UK. ss877@cam.ac.uk; rh705@cam.ac.uk
Robert K. Henderson
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Cambridge, CambridgeCB2 3EB, UK. ss877@cam.ac.uk; rh705@cam.ac.uk

Abstract

We propose that procedures of separation have two functions, namely first, to establish the integrity of individual parts, and second, to make previously joint entities discreet and therefore countable. This allows taking stock of available resources, including evaluating the use of individual objects, a process that is especially adaptive under conditions of threat of contagious disease and resource scarcity.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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