Psychology of Religion Module

GLOSSARY

behavioral model of religion : A model that emphasizes the importance of anaylzing a person’s learning history to determine the extent to which, for that person, religious behavior has been and is being rewarded, punished, and imitated.

extrinsic religious orientation : Personal motives that lie outside the religion itself; using religion for some nonreligious ends.

gradual conversion : A religious change that takes place over a period of time, ranging from several weeks or months to even years.

grand paradox: The paradox that individuals who attend church tend to be more prejudiced in ethnic matters than nonchurchgoers.

humanistic model of religion: A model that emphasizes that a person’s most important needs include needs for growth, purpose, and self-actualization. Humans have innate tendencies to fulfill their potential and express their values. Religion serves as an important vehicle for fulfilling potential and expressing values.

intrinsic religious orientation : Religious motives that lie within the person; living the religion.

operational definition : A statement of what a construct is in terms of the procedures or methods used to assess it.

psychoanalytic (psychodynamic) model of religion : A model that emphasizes that the key to understanding religiousness resides deep within the unconscious mind. Individuals are believed to have instinctual needs they are not aware of, such as needs for safety and security, which can be met by relating to a higher power.

Quest : Searching and exploring religious issues while being satisfied in not finding answers and being aware of one’s limitations in the face of existential questions.

religious belief : The ideological dimension and doctrine of religious commitment - the content of what someone believes.

religious conversion : The change from having no religious belief to accepting a religious belief system as one’s own, or the process of changing from one religious belief system to another.

religious effects : The consequential dimension of religious commitment, which includes the behaviors a person engages in during everyday life that are due to religion.

religious feeling : The experiential dimension of religious commitment, which consists of the emotions, states of consciousness, or sense of well-being, dread, freedom, or guilt that are part of a person’s religiousness.

religious knowledge : The intellectual dimension of religious commitment - what a person knows about the belief.

religious practice : The ritualistic dimension of religious commitment - the behavior someone is supposed to perform as part of a particular religion.

religious socialization : A lifelong process in which individuals cannot remember not having a religious faith.

sociocultural model of religion : A model that emphasizes that individuals adopt a particular religious stance because of the experiences they have had in the culture in which they live.

sudden conversion : A religious change that occurs all at once with no prior warning.