Psychology of Religion

Religion may have helped prevent Americans from experiencing mental distress during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak but, according to new research, it also appears to be linked to undercutting efforts to prevent the spread of the deadly virus....

New research provides evidence that specific forms of religious motivation are associated with higher-level patterns of thought. The findings, which appear in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, shed light on the cognitive underpinnings of the relationship between...

Prayer is not often couched in terms of meditation and mindfulness, although the two states share many behavioral and psychological similarities. Both involve mental calm, for example, as well as introspection, daily or regular observation, and certain contextual and behavioral...

Both religious and non-religious medical students volunteered to help battle the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland, according to new research published in the Journal of Religion and Health. But the study found that altruistic motivations were more common among religious students,...

New research published in the Academy of Management Journal indicates that religion perpetuates the gender wage gap. The findings provide evidence that men tend to earn significantly more than women in societies with heightened religiosity. "Management researchers have called religion...

It has often been said that surrendering to a higher power can bring happiness, and this is certainly a sentiment shared by many followers of faiths around the world. A new study published in Trends in Psychology has provided empirical...

Psychology is one of the foremost scientific methods for understanding the phenomenon of organized religion and its cognitive, emotional, moral and social dimensions. To explore how these psychological elements map onto and mediate the subjective religious experience, an international team...

In a recently-published study in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, researchers found evidence that reflecting on biblical scripture impacted subsequent cardiovascular stress reactivity among Christian college students. The findings provide new insights into how religious practices can influence...

A recent study offers new evidence that having a close relationship with God serves the psychological purpose of enhancing one’s sense of control. The study was published in Cognitive, Affective, and Behavioral Neuroscience. Spiritual belief is a fundamental aspect of...

Consistency in closeness to or distance from God is associated with heightened psychological well-being, according to new research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. The findings provide evidence that the level of closeness one feels to a...

Regional cultural differences appear to play an important role in moderating the link between religiosity and sexist/anti-gay attitudes, according to new research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. The study provides evidence that cultures that foster an exclusionary, threatening...

Individuals who unconsciously learn patterns tend to hold stronger beliefs that there is a god who intervenes in the world and human affairs, according to new research published in Nature Communications. The study provides new insight into the relationship between...

A new study suggests that the conflict between science and religion is not universal but instead depends on the historical and cultural context of a given country. The findings were published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. It is widely...

Individuals who claim knowledge of fake religious concepts are more supportive of religious aggression, while individuals with accurate religious knowledge are less supportive, according to new research published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. "Although many quote the Christian Bible,...

Christian nationalism shapes Americans' responses to the novel coronavirus outbreak, according to new research that analyzed data from 2,519 individuals. The study, which can be viewed for free in the Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, indicates that those...