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Table of Contents
Front Cover
The Science of Religion, Spirituality, and Existentialism
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Contributors
Preface
Core existential concerns
The scope and treatment of the present volume
The broader context
References
1 Death
1 Dwelling forever in the house of the lord: on the terror management function of religion
Terror management theory
The ontogeny of terror management
A brief phylogenic history of terror management
The experimental research supporting terror management theory
Research directly focused on the terror management function of religion
The association between religiosity and death anxiety
Mortality salience and investment in religiosity
Evidence that strong or bolstered religious belief reduces defensive responses to mortality salience
What about atheists?
Summary of the evidence
Broad implications of a terror management analysis of religion
The upside of religion
The downside of religion
A tale of two worldviews
A rock
A hard place
Conclusion
References
Further reading
2 Death anxiety and religious belief: a critical review
Are people afraid of death? Pt 1: Evidence from lists
Are people afraid of death? Pt 2: Evidence from scales
Are people afraid of death? Pt 3: Death anxiety and proximity to death
Are people afraid of death? Pt 4: Death anxiety and mortality salience
Are people afraid of death? Coda
Are death anxiety and religiosity correlated?
Does mortality salience increase religious belief?
Concluding remarks
References
3 Face to face with death: the role of religion in coping with suffering
How do people usually cope with existential concerns?
The existential and individual functions of religious beliefs
Conceptualizing God
When beliefs fail.
Suffering elicits existential concerns
Facing death
Disasters
Terminal and chronic illness
Trauma
Religion and suffering: fighting, freezing, fleeing, or flourishing
Toward existentially resilient religion
Concluding thoughts
Acknowledgment
References
4 Near-death experiences: the mystical feeling of "crossing over" and its impact on faith and spirituality
Near-death experience phenomenology
Defining near-death experiences
Historical reports and estimated incidence of near-death experiences
Disclosure of near-death experiences
Explanatory models for near-death experiences
Physiological explanations
Psychological explanations
Psychopathological explanations
Nonmaterialist explanations
Impact of near-death experiences
References
2 Freedom
5 Reactance and spiritual possibilities: an application of psychological reactance theory
Psychological reactance theory
Historical roots
Psychological reactance theory framework
Freedoms
Elimination and threats to freedom
Arousal of reactance
Restoration of freedom
Psychological reactance theory and religion
Question 1: Threats to religious freedom and reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Impersonal freedom threats
Oppositional behavioral outcomes
Subjective outcomes
Positive evaluation
Anger and source derogation
Summary: Question 1
Question 2: Restrictive faith-based regulations and reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Controlling language
Persuasive intent
Summary: Question 2
Question 3: Avoiding or minimizing reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Avoiding reactance arousal
Autonomy-supportive language
Narrative
Reducing reactance arousal.
Restoration postscripts
Inoculation
Message sensation value
Summary: Question 3
Future directions
Moderators
Expanding catalysts of reactance
Expanding outcomes of reactance
Conclusion
References
6 Understanding the psychology of religion: the contribution of self-determination theory
The core concepts of self-determination theory
How self-determination theory helps us understand different forms of religiosity
Self-determination theory's perspective compared with other conceptualizations about religiosity
Different religious motivations correspond to different ways of approaching religious contents
Connection between different motivations for religious behaviors and well-being and social outcomes
The antecedents of religious internalization in the family
How larger social context could predict self-determined religiosity
Discussion and conclusion
Some practical implications
References
7 A goals perspective on religion and spirituality
The existential relevance of goals
Religion and spirituality through the lens of goals: ultimate existential concerns and subjective well-being
Subjective well-being
Sanctifying the "everyday"
Sanctifying objects
Sanctifying locations
Sanctifying behavior
Goal frustration, conflict, and religious zeal
Are religious and spiritual goals optimal for existential security?
References
8 Religion and spirituality, free will, and effective self-regulation
What is free will?
Philosophical terminology
The psychological construct of free will belief
The social-cognition of free will
Moral judgments and responsibility
Punishment and retributive versus restorative justice motives
Self-other bias in free will perceptions
Effects of free will beliefs
Prosocial behavior
Conformity
Gratitude.
Religion, spirituality, and motivated action
Self-control
Rational choice
Planful behavior
Values
Behavioral change
Taking initiative
Religion and self-regulation
Self-regulation as a limited resource
Religion's influence in facilitating effective self-regulation
Concluding remarks
References
Further reading
9 Authenticity and the true self in religion and spirituality
The historical emergence of authenticity concerns and their ties to religion
The true self and authenticity: perspectives from existential philosophy and psychology
The interplay of religion and authenticity: conceptual and empirical considerations
Having religious experiences
Self-transcendence in religious experience
The noetic quality in religious experiences
Suggestions for future research
Holding religious beliefs
Theistic beliefs
Body-soul dualism
Having a religious identity
Participating in religious communities
Religion as a means of meeting belongingness needs
Participation in religious rituals
Morality: the key to understanding the relationship between religion and authenticity?
Concluding thoughts: is religion uniquely relevant to authenticity?
References
10 Freedom as a cross to bear: choice overload, the burdens of freedom, and the benefits of constraint
Choice overload and paralysis
"Freedom," "choice," "autonomy," and the "self"
Sincerity and authenticity
From "You Are What You Do" to "You Are What You Own"
Freedom, choice, and welfare: a nonmonotonic relation
Religion, spirituality, freedom, and choice
References
3 Isolation and social identity
11 Social ostracism, religion, and existential concerns
Temporal need-threat model of ostracism
Reflexive stage
Reflective stage
Resignation stage
Religion and ostracism.
Religion as a potential source of ostracism
Ostracism for religious protection
Ostracism for religious correction and (if necessary) ejection
Ostracism and God
Religion as a potential response to ostracism
Ostracism and extremism
Concluding remarks
References
Further reading
12 The holy grail of connection: I-sharing, existential isolation, and religion
Existential isolation
I-sharing
Faith-based practices and existential connection
I-sharing, intergroup outcomes, and faith
Summary
References
13 An attachment theory perspective on religion and spirituality
Attachment theory: basic concepts
Religion and attachment: normative aspects
Points of departure
Seeking and maintaining proximity to God
God as a safe haven
God as a secure base
The attachment figure is perceived to be stronger and wiser
Summary
Religion as attachment: individual differences
The correspondence pathway
The compensation pathway
Coda
References
14 A social identity approach to religion: religiosity at the nexus of personal and collective self
Religion, prejudice, and collective action
Religious orientations
Religious ideology: orthodoxy, fundamentalism, and components of right-wing authoritarianism
Specificity of prejudice targets and social identity
Social identity and the religious self
Social identity and religious opinion-based groups
SIMCA and EMSICA models of social identity and collective action
The normative alignment model of social action and opinion-based group interventions
Ideology-based social identities
A tripartite social identity normative model of religious fundamentalism
Summary of group-based models
Religion, self-structure, and personal well-being
The salience model of self-categories.
Convergent perspectives from theories of the personal self.
The Science of Religion, Spirituality, and Existentialism
Copyright Page
Contents
List of Contributors
Preface
Core existential concerns
The scope and treatment of the present volume
The broader context
References
1 Death
1 Dwelling forever in the house of the lord: on the terror management function of religion
Terror management theory
The ontogeny of terror management
A brief phylogenic history of terror management
The experimental research supporting terror management theory
Research directly focused on the terror management function of religion
The association between religiosity and death anxiety
Mortality salience and investment in religiosity
Evidence that strong or bolstered religious belief reduces defensive responses to mortality salience
What about atheists?
Summary of the evidence
Broad implications of a terror management analysis of religion
The upside of religion
The downside of religion
A tale of two worldviews
A rock
A hard place
Conclusion
References
Further reading
2 Death anxiety and religious belief: a critical review
Are people afraid of death? Pt 1: Evidence from lists
Are people afraid of death? Pt 2: Evidence from scales
Are people afraid of death? Pt 3: Death anxiety and proximity to death
Are people afraid of death? Pt 4: Death anxiety and mortality salience
Are people afraid of death? Coda
Are death anxiety and religiosity correlated?
Does mortality salience increase religious belief?
Concluding remarks
References
3 Face to face with death: the role of religion in coping with suffering
How do people usually cope with existential concerns?
The existential and individual functions of religious beliefs
Conceptualizing God
When beliefs fail.
Suffering elicits existential concerns
Facing death
Disasters
Terminal and chronic illness
Trauma
Religion and suffering: fighting, freezing, fleeing, or flourishing
Toward existentially resilient religion
Concluding thoughts
Acknowledgment
References
4 Near-death experiences: the mystical feeling of "crossing over" and its impact on faith and spirituality
Near-death experience phenomenology
Defining near-death experiences
Historical reports and estimated incidence of near-death experiences
Disclosure of near-death experiences
Explanatory models for near-death experiences
Physiological explanations
Psychological explanations
Psychopathological explanations
Nonmaterialist explanations
Impact of near-death experiences
References
2 Freedom
5 Reactance and spiritual possibilities: an application of psychological reactance theory
Psychological reactance theory
Historical roots
Psychological reactance theory framework
Freedoms
Elimination and threats to freedom
Arousal of reactance
Restoration of freedom
Psychological reactance theory and religion
Question 1: Threats to religious freedom and reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Impersonal freedom threats
Oppositional behavioral outcomes
Subjective outcomes
Positive evaluation
Anger and source derogation
Summary: Question 1
Question 2: Restrictive faith-based regulations and reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Controlling language
Persuasive intent
Summary: Question 2
Question 3: Avoiding or minimizing reactance
Psychological reactance theory predictions
Supporting evidence
Avoiding reactance arousal
Autonomy-supportive language
Narrative
Reducing reactance arousal.
Restoration postscripts
Inoculation
Message sensation value
Summary: Question 3
Future directions
Moderators
Expanding catalysts of reactance
Expanding outcomes of reactance
Conclusion
References
6 Understanding the psychology of religion: the contribution of self-determination theory
The core concepts of self-determination theory
How self-determination theory helps us understand different forms of religiosity
Self-determination theory's perspective compared with other conceptualizations about religiosity
Different religious motivations correspond to different ways of approaching religious contents
Connection between different motivations for religious behaviors and well-being and social outcomes
The antecedents of religious internalization in the family
How larger social context could predict self-determined religiosity
Discussion and conclusion
Some practical implications
References
7 A goals perspective on religion and spirituality
The existential relevance of goals
Religion and spirituality through the lens of goals: ultimate existential concerns and subjective well-being
Subjective well-being
Sanctifying the "everyday"
Sanctifying objects
Sanctifying locations
Sanctifying behavior
Goal frustration, conflict, and religious zeal
Are religious and spiritual goals optimal for existential security?
References
8 Religion and spirituality, free will, and effective self-regulation
What is free will?
Philosophical terminology
The psychological construct of free will belief
The social-cognition of free will
Moral judgments and responsibility
Punishment and retributive versus restorative justice motives
Self-other bias in free will perceptions
Effects of free will beliefs
Prosocial behavior
Conformity
Gratitude.
Religion, spirituality, and motivated action
Self-control
Rational choice
Planful behavior
Values
Behavioral change
Taking initiative
Religion and self-regulation
Self-regulation as a limited resource
Religion's influence in facilitating effective self-regulation
Concluding remarks
References
Further reading
9 Authenticity and the true self in religion and spirituality
The historical emergence of authenticity concerns and their ties to religion
The true self and authenticity: perspectives from existential philosophy and psychology
The interplay of religion and authenticity: conceptual and empirical considerations
Having religious experiences
Self-transcendence in religious experience
The noetic quality in religious experiences
Suggestions for future research
Holding religious beliefs
Theistic beliefs
Body-soul dualism
Having a religious identity
Participating in religious communities
Religion as a means of meeting belongingness needs
Participation in religious rituals
Morality: the key to understanding the relationship between religion and authenticity?
Concluding thoughts: is religion uniquely relevant to authenticity?
References
10 Freedom as a cross to bear: choice overload, the burdens of freedom, and the benefits of constraint
Choice overload and paralysis
"Freedom," "choice," "autonomy," and the "self"
Sincerity and authenticity
From "You Are What You Do" to "You Are What You Own"
Freedom, choice, and welfare: a nonmonotonic relation
Religion, spirituality, freedom, and choice
References
3 Isolation and social identity
11 Social ostracism, religion, and existential concerns
Temporal need-threat model of ostracism
Reflexive stage
Reflective stage
Resignation stage
Religion and ostracism.
Religion as a potential source of ostracism
Ostracism for religious protection
Ostracism for religious correction and (if necessary) ejection
Ostracism and God
Religion as a potential response to ostracism
Ostracism and extremism
Concluding remarks
References
Further reading
12 The holy grail of connection: I-sharing, existential isolation, and religion
Existential isolation
I-sharing
Faith-based practices and existential connection
I-sharing, intergroup outcomes, and faith
Summary
References
13 An attachment theory perspective on religion and spirituality
Attachment theory: basic concepts
Religion and attachment: normative aspects
Points of departure
Seeking and maintaining proximity to God
God as a safe haven
God as a secure base
The attachment figure is perceived to be stronger and wiser
Summary
Religion as attachment: individual differences
The correspondence pathway
The compensation pathway
Coda
References
14 A social identity approach to religion: religiosity at the nexus of personal and collective self
Religion, prejudice, and collective action
Religious orientations
Religious ideology: orthodoxy, fundamentalism, and components of right-wing authoritarianism
Specificity of prejudice targets and social identity
Social identity and the religious self
Social identity and religious opinion-based groups
SIMCA and EMSICA models of social identity and collective action
The normative alignment model of social action and opinion-based group interventions
Ideology-based social identities
A tripartite social identity normative model of religious fundamentalism
Summary of group-based models
Religion, self-structure, and personal well-being
The salience model of self-categories.
Convergent perspectives from theories of the personal self.