A long-standing debate in anthropology concerns whether people in other societies wholeheartedly believe that magic is an effective technology. Drawing on recent work in political science and psychology, Levy et al. argue that this debate should consider whether informants’ reports are sincere and accurate. Levy at al. suggest that people in small-scale societies - and those in WEIRD (Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic) societies too - may exhibit a range of attitudes to magic: wholehearted belief (and disbelief), a more symbolic attitude, and even no fixed attitude at all. hbes.com/who-really-believes…