Jan 23 2009
A Genuinely Powerful Deity
“A threat display is a sort of bluff. Sometimes things will escalate to true violence.”
- Christopher Boehm (10)In that day the Egyptians will be like women. They will shudder with fear at the uplifted hand that the LORD Almighty raises against them. And the land of Judah will bring terror to the Egyptians; everyone to whom Judah is mentioned will be terrified, because of what the LORD Almighty is planning against them. (Isaiah 19:16-17)
Although impressively intelligent, human beings are primates. Their behavior and the stories they tell reflect an ancient, animal nature. A large part of that nature is an interest in attaining and protecting one’s status, one’s position in a hierarchy. Today human alphas tend to merely hint of negative consequences for non-compliance. But that is not nor has not always been the case.
Threat behavior frequently reflects the emotion of anger on the part of the greater, fear on the part of the lesser. In research on “social status conferral,” Larissa Tiedens noted,
“Anger expressions get others to do as the expressor wants and create the impression that expressor is dominant and strong.” (11)
Her research, by the way, was conducted not on chimpanzees, but on human beings.
The typical threat display of the silverback gorilla–aimed at rogue males with an eye on his harem–is the chest thump and quadrupedal “bluff” charge. In a sense, the gorilla is showing what he intends to do.(12) But no bruises result, no blood is shed. Usually.
Chimps will charge and swagger and throw things.(13) Human politicians may raise their voice. Tiedens’ research on humans revealed that
“…there was evidence that people will confer status to politicians who express anger rather than sadness.” (14)
Why would people follow a leader, an alpha, who shows signs of vulnerability? We tend to favor strong leaders. Those that have a real ability to influence the behavior of others and not be likewise influenced. Those that don’t back down from conflict and crisis.
In the wild, the overwhelming majority of primate status conflicts are resolved peaceably. (15) One individual will bluff aggression–it raises its hair and raises perhaps a visual/auditory ruckus–the other (or others) succumb. But there are those times something greater than a bluff is required.
When a bluff is “called” a test of real power ensues. This is why an alpha will frequently do more than display to keep his (or her) subordinates in line. Acts manifesting real power show that they mean what they advertise.
“Because natural selection favors the skeptical observer and acts against any individual who allows himself to be duped by traits unrelated to fighting ability, the only displays that persist over time are ‘honest’ indicators . . .” (16)
Can religious followers truly believe their god is great unless they periodically witness events attributed to him that cause awe if not a modicum of fear? Oh sure, in today’s world, educated and well-fed individuals living in a tranquil communities may worship a relatively pacifist deity (one that has been neutered, so to speak). But change those variables and the nature of their god would change. Historically (and in many places in the world this very moment) people desired a god with muscles–with a real ability to affect change.
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(10) Boehm, C., Hierarchy in the Forest: The Evolution of Egalitarian Behavior, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA., 1999.
(11) Tiedens, L., “Anger and Advancement versus Sadness and Subjugation: The Effect of Negative Emotion Expressions On Social Status Conferral,” Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, January 1, 2001, Vol. 80 #1
(12) Jolly, A. Lucy’s Legacy, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1999.
(13) King, Barabara. The Dynamic Dance: Nonvocal Communication in African Great Apes, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 2004, p. 147
(14) Tiedens, L., 2001.(15) de Waal, F. Peacemaking Among Primates, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA, 1989, p. 121
(16) Cheney, D. L., & Seyfarth, R. M. Baboon Metaphysics: The Evolution of a Social Mind, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2007, p.52
