Voluntary Costly Signals in Religious Communities: A Political Interpretation

Abstract The article advances a political interpretation of ritual behavior in religious communes, grounded costly signaling theory religion. Both asceticism, often involving self-inflicted pain or severe deprivation, and ecstatic behavior, incurring considerable energetic emotional expenditure, can perform the role voluntary signals ( VCS ) – uncoerced displays broadcasting features that predispose signaler to higher status position authority community. , as all signals, help group determine distribution relevant traits, but, contrast most applications theory, it is leadership qualifications, not commitment, these communicate. discussion ’ empowering mechanism illustrated with cross-cultural evidence, focusing on Russian Skoptsy American Shakers. Voluntary had demonstrably contributed creation stability groups’ power regimes.