The Psychology of Religion, Third Edition An Empirical Approach

by Spilka, Bernard; Hood, Jr., Ralph W.; Hunsberger, Bruce; Gorsuch, Richard

• ISBN13: 9781572309012
• ISBN10: 1572309016
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2003-08-06
• Publisher: The Guilford Press

Summary

Now in a fully revised and expanded third edition, this landmark text provides comprehensive, up-to-date coverage of an increasingly rich and varied field. The authors synthesize classic and contemporary research on religious thought, belief, and behavior across the lifespan; the forms and meaning of religious experience; the social psychology of religious organizations; and connections to biology, morality, coping, and mental health. As in previous editions, the focus is on scientific work that is moving the psychology of religion into the mainstream of academic psychology, rather than broad interpretative and conceptual discussions. Organized for optimal use in advanced undergraduate- or graduate-level courses, every chapter features thought-provoking quotations, sidebars, and examples that bring key concepts to life.

New in the Third Edition
*Restructured and expanded to accommodate the rapidly growing literature
*Fully updated with the latest findings and interpretations
*New chapter on religion and biology
*New chapter on empirical foundations
*Coverage of such timely topics as religious extremism and clerical child abuse

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. The Psychological Nature and Functions of Religion	1	(23)
Why Should We Study Religion Psychologically?,	1	(1)
What Is the Psychology of Religion?,	2	(3)
What Is Religion?,	5	(9)
Perspectives on the Psychology of Religion,	14	(1)
A Framework for Studying the Psychology of Religion,	15	(4)
Overview,	19	(1)
Appendix: Statistical Procedures and Considerations,	20	(4)
Chapter 2. Foundations f or an Empirical Psychology of Religion	24	(30)
Examining Religion Empirically,	24	(1)
Distinguishing Religion from Other Concepts,	25	(3)
How Is Religiousness Defined in the Psychology of Religion?,	28	(1)
Dimensional Approaches to Religiousness,	28	(6)
A Perspective from Psychology: Social Psychology,	34	(13)
Reductionism and the Idiographic-Nomothetic Controversy,	47	(6)
Overview,	53	(1)
Chapter 3. Religion and Biology	54	(19)
Religion and Biology: A Troubled Relationship,	54	(3)
Religion, Genetics, and Evolution: A Theory,	57	(2)
Some Alternative Perspectives,	59	(2)
Religion and the Brain,	61	(2)
The Biology of Religious Behavior,	63	(3)
The Biology of Religious Experience,	66	(1)
Biological Influence of Religious Teachings and Practices,	67	(1)
Religion and Biology in Health and Illness,	68	(3)
Overview,	71	(2)
Chapter 4. Religion in Childhood	73	(33)
Born to Be Religious?,	73	(2)
Theories of Religious Development,	75	(11)
Concepts of God,	86	(4)
Prayer,	90	(3)
Religious Experience in Childhood,	93	(1)
Attachment Theory and Related Research,	93	(4)
Other Work on Religion in Childhood,	97	(6)
Overview,	103	(3)
Chapter 5. Religious Socialization and Thought in Adolescence and Young Adulthood	106	(42)
Religious Socialization,	106	(2)
Influences on Religiousness in Childhood and Adolescence,	108	(14)
How Religious Are Adolescents and Young Adults?,	122	(2)
Does Religious Socialization Influence Adjustment and Nonreligious Behavior in Adolescence?,	124	(1)
Religious Thinking and Reasoning in Adolescence and Young Adulthood,	125	(4)
Religious Doubts,	129	(5)
Apostasy,	134	(9)
Religion and Identity Development in Adolescence,	143	(3)
Overview,	146	(2)
Chapter 6. The Form and Content of Adult Religion	148	(21)
Religion in Adult Life,	148	(1)
The Collective Expression of Religion,	149	(1)
Religious Affiliation and Behavior in the United States,	150	(2)
Religious Beliefs in the United States,	152	(1)
Gender and Religion,	153	(3)
The Significance of Age,	156	(3)
The Acceptance and Rejection of Institutionalized Religion,	159	(6)
Religion and Elderly Individuals,	165	(2)
Religious Purposes,	167	(1)
Overview,	168	(1)
Chapter 7. The Roles and Functions of Religion in Adult Life	169	(38)
How Adults Are Influenced by Religion,	169	(1)
Religion and Social Relationships,	170	(4)
Religion, Work, and Occupation,	174	(9)
Religion in Love, Sex, and Marriage,	183	(15)
Religion and Politics,	198	(8)
Overview,	206	(1)
Chapter 8. Religion and Death	207	(39)
Death and Religion: A Framework,	207	(1)
Religion, Death, and Immortality,	208	(8)
Religion, Death Anxiety, and Death Perspectives,	216	(7)
Religion, Death, and Age,	223	(4)
Religion and Euthanasia,	227	(3)
Religion and Suicide,	230	(2)
Religion, Grief, and Bereavement,	232	(5)
Death and the Clergy,	237	(4)
Death in the Religious-Social Context,	241	(3)
Overview,	244	(2)
Chapter 9. Religious Experience	246	(44)
Conceptual Considerations in Defining Religious Experience,	247	(10)
The Body in Religious Experience,	257	(12)
Religious Imagery: The Return of the Ostracized,	269	(14)
Entheogens and Religious Experience,	283	(5)
Overview,	288	(2)
Chapter 10. Mysticism	290	(51)
Conceptual Issues in the Study of Mysticism,	291	(4)
Representative Classical Views of Mysticism,	295	(4)
The Empirical Study of Mysticism,	299	(13)
A Cautionary Note: Mysticism and the Paranormal,	312	(19)
Toward a Theory of Mysticism: Religious and Spiritual,	331	(9)
Overview,	340	(1)
Chapter 11. Conversion	341	(34)
The Classic Research Paradigm: Psychological Dominance,	343	(8)
The Contemporary Research Paradigm: Sociological Dominance,	351	(9)
Conversion Processes,	360	(7)
Deconversion and Related Phenomena,	367	(5)
The Complexity of Conversion,	372	(1)
Overview,	373	(2)
Chapter 12. The Social Psychology of Religious Organizations	375	(41)
The Classification of Religious Organizations,	376	(1)
Church-Sect Theory,	377	(9)
Organizational Dynamics,	386	(8)
Cults,	394	(7)
The Anti-Cult Movement,	401	(10)
Social-Psychological Processes in Religious Participation,	411	(4)
Overview,	415	(1)
Chapter 13. Religion and Morality	416	(29)
Does Religion Dictate Morality?,	416	(2)
Moral Attitudes,	418	(1)
Moral Behavior,	419	(24)
Overview,	443	(2)
Chapter 14. Helping Behavior and Prejudice	445	(35)
Helping Behavior,	445	(12)
Prejudice, Discrimination, and Stereotyping,	457	(21)
Overview,	478	(2)
Chapter 15. Religion, Coping, and Adjustment	480	(27)
Theoretical Approaches to Coping and Religion,	481	(6)
Prayer and Forgiveness as Coping Methods,	487	(6)
The State of Research on Religion and Coping,	493	(1)
Contextual Coping Concerns,	494	(3)
Religion and Coping with Major Stress,	497	(9)
Overview,	506	(1)
Chapter 16. Religion and Mental Disorder	507	(28)
Past and Present: Confusion, Conflict, Resolution,	507	(1)
Concerns, Cautions, and Directions,	508	(2)
Religion as an Expression of Mental Disorder,	510	(6)
Religion as a Socializing and Suppressing Agent,	516	(3)
Religion as a Haven,	519	(4)
Religion as Therapy,	523	(4)
Religion as a Hazard to Mental Health,	527	(3)
Topics of Special Concern,	530	(3)
Overview,	533	(2)
Chapter 17. Epilogue	535	(10)
Research in the Psychology of Religion and Spirituality,	536	(3)
The Need for Theory in the Psychology of Religion,	539	(2)
Extremism, Conflict, and the Psychology of Religion,	541	(1)
Final Thoughts: Needs for Today and the Future,	542	(3)
References	545	(96)
Author Index	641	(16)
Subject Index	657