Publications

Scholarly Publications

Reinhardt, L., & Whitehouse, H. (2025). What kinds of speeches motivate climate action? Royal Society Open Science, 12(241563). https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsos.241563

Turpin, H., Willard, A. K., & Whitehouse, H. (2024). American mental models of scientific versus theological prestige: A freelist analysis. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2024.2363760

White, C., Barrett, J. L., Boyer, P., Lawson, E. T., McCauley, R. N., & Whitehouse, H. (2025a). The cognitive science of religion: Past, present, and possible futures. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2025.247440

White, C., Barrett, J. L., Boyer, P., Lawson, E. T., McCauley, R. N., & Whitehouse, H. (2025b). Whence and whither CSR: Expanding the conversation. Religion, Brain & Behavior, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2025.2477136

White, C., Morales, D., Xygalatas, D., Hernu, M., Mathiassen, A., Ainsworth, A., Geraty, M., Bayindir, N., Robinson, B., & Whitehouse, H. (2024). How shared suffering bonded Britons witnessing the Queen’s funeral. Scientific Reports, 14, 16620. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-66537-5

Whitehouse, H. (2023a). The role of ritual in the evolution of social complexity. In J. J. Tehrani, J. Kendal, & R. Kendal (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of cultural evolution (online ed.). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198869252.013.49

Whitehouse, H. (2023b). Rethinking ritual: How rituals made our world and how they could save it. Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, 30, 115–132. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9655.14048

Whitehouse, H. (2025). Introduction. In J. Larson, J. Reddish, & P. Turchin (Eds.), Seshat history of moralizing religion, volume 1: Historical and comparative perspectives. Beresta Books.

Whitehouse, H., François, P., Savage, P. E., Hoyer, D., Feeney, K. C., Cioni, E., Purcell, R., Larson, J., Baines, J., ter Haar, B., Covey, A., & Turchin, P. (2023). Testing the Big Gods hypothesis: A review and “retake.” Religion, Brain & Behavior, 13(2), 124–166. https://doi.org/10.1080/2153599X.2022.2074085

 
Popular Articles

White, C. (2026, January 16). The hidden power of grief rituals. The Conversation.
https://theconversation.com/the-hidden-power-of-grief-rituals-260393

Whitehouse, H. (2024). Do you need religion to be a moral person? Big Think. https://bigthink.com/thinking/do-you-need-religion-to-be-a-moral-person/

Whitehouse, H. (2025, April 4). Himmel und Hölle sind wir selbst. Der Pragmaticus. https://www.derpragmaticus.com/r/goetter-moral

Whitehouse, H. (2025a). A recipe for Singapore: A dash of religion and concern for the planet. The Straits Times. https://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/a-recipe-for-singapore-a-dash-of-religion-and-concern-for-the-planet

Whitehouse, H. (2025b). On the evolutionary origins of the modern world – A conversation with Professor Harvey Whitehouse. Thought Economics. https://thoughteconomics.com/harvey-whitehouse/

Xygalatas, D. (2024). How emotions spread in groups. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-ritual-mind/202407/how-emotions-spread-in-groups

Xygalatas, D. (2025a). Commencement isn’t just about awarding degrees – and cancellations leave students disconnected and disillusioned. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/commencement-isnt-just-about-awarding-degrees-and-cancellations-leave-students-disconnected-and-disillusioned-229425

Xygalatas, D. (2025b). To save nature, make it sacred. Noema Magazine. https://www.noemamag.com/to-save-nature-make-it-sacred/

Multimedia 

Whitehouse, H. (2022, October 22). Can rituals help with our grief for the natural world? Science Weekly [Podcast]. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2022/oct/20/can-rituals-help-with-our-grief-for-the-natural-world

White, C. (2025, August 22). The science of belief [Podcast series]. Substack. https://erringtowardsanswers.substack.com/p/the-science-of-belief

Whitehouse, H. (2024, July 17). Surprise gift: How inherited generational traits underpin our societies [Podcast episode]. Intelligence Squared. https://open.spotify.com/episode/1IS3HrqoTf3vpWD0FZl83m

Whitehouse, H. (2024, August 27–28). Does our biology facilitate our global disorder? Nationalism – Can it be reclaimed for order? [Podcast episodes]. Disorder Podcast with Jason Pack. https://podcasts.apple.com/kn/podcast/ep63-part-1-does-our-biology-facilitate-our-global-disorder/id1706818264?i=1000666737847

Whitehouse, H. (2024, August 28). Overcoming tribalism [Podcast episode]. Quiet Riot Podcast. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/overcoming-tribalism-w-prof-harvey-whitehouse/id1747588157?i=1000666811329

Whitehouse, H. (2024, September 10). In conversation with Daniel Norcross [Podcast episode]. Rathbones Inspired Minds. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/harvey-whitehouse/id1720009839?i=1000669080355

Whitehouse, H. (2024, October 16). How conformism, religiosity, and tribalism have shaped our past—and can save our future [Talk]. Harvard University Press. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GE5HfkYMMg0

Whitehouse, H. (2024, November 10). Inheritance: The evolutionary origins of the modern world [Podcast episode]. New Books in Big Ideas Podcast. https://open.spotify.com/episode/32Ruy0G1bqa49GTZaNRbeU

Whitehouse, H. (2024, November 25). Episode #200: Dr. Harvey Whitehouse [Podcast episode]. A Song Called Life. https://www.harveywhitehouse.com/podcasts

Whitehouse, H. (2024, December 10). How has our evolutionary past shaped us? [Podcast episode]. Reading Our Times. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-has-our-evolutionary-past-shaped-us-in-conversation/id1530952185?i=1000679841718

Whitehouse, H. (2025, April 4). How rituals shape our world – From faith to football [Podcast episode]. Tapestry of Cohesion. https://www.harveywhitehouse.com/podcasts

Whitehouse, H. (2024, September 15). Do you need to believe in God to be moral? ABC Radio Nightlife. https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/nightlife/mortal-coil-harvey/104354430

 Whitehouse, H. (2023, November 28). Rituals, social cohesion, and the theory of modes of religiosity [Podcast episode]. Anthropology on Air. https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/9-rituals-social-cohesion-the-theory-of/id1676462743?i=1000636871383

 Whitehouse, H. (2024). The science of morality [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBP9HykRib0

 Whitehouse, H. (2022). Henry Myers Lecture [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj-j9UZJX4s

Whitehouse, H. (2021). Rituals: Unveiling their hidden aspects and effects on society [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2Ho5ZtGK0c