Psychology of Religion

Atheism is associated with the habitual restriction of emotional displays, according to new research published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. The findings have implications for anti-atheist prejudice as well as why some individuals are drawn toward an...

Humans have a tendency to incorrectly detect another person or creature in their environment, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as hypersensitive agency detection. New research utilized virtual reality technology to examine whether agency detection was associated with belief in the...

A new study published in the journal Public Understanding of Science sheds light on why religious believers tend to distrust scientists. The findings suggest that Christians in the United States assume that religious scientists are more motivated than non-religious scientists...

New research has found a link between religious environments in the United States and porn-viewing among youth. The study, published in Deviant Behavior, strengthens the findings of existing research by using multilevel data to account for important differences between individuals....

New research published in Group Processes & Intergroup Relations provides insight into what motivates some nonreligious individuals to conceal their lack of belief. The findings suggest that awareness of anti-atheist stigma is an important predictor of public identification as an...

While the use of pornography is widespread in the general population, its problematic use appears to be especially prominent among religious men. A recent study, published in Sexual Addiction and Compulsivity, suggests that a psychological construct called scrupulosity might explain...

Disgust sensitivity appears to play a role in religious fundamentalism, according to new research published in Frontiers in Psychology. The findings indicate that those who are more prone to feelings of disgust are more likely to feel anxious about committing...

Existentially threatening situations like natural disasters and terrorist attacks can induce cognitive dissonance among the religious. But this cognitive dissonance appears to be reduced in those who view their religion as a central component of life, according to new research...

A new study published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality has found that highly religious people tend to be perceived as more empathic compared to less religious people. "Psychological research has shown that religious people report higher levels...

People who misjudge meaningless sentences as profound statements are more likely to use essential oils and find them effective, according to new research that appears in the scientific journal PLOS One. Essential oils extracted from plants are commonly used with...

In nations where people's happiness is more closely linked to religious conformity, it tends to be less strongly linked to subjective freedom, and vice versa, according to new research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies. The findings suggest that...

An ad featuring Ron Reagan, son of the Republican former President Ronald Reagan, surprised some viewers of the recent Democratic primary debates. In the 30-second spot, run by the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Reagan expressed concern that religious beliefs have...

Reflecting on your personal beliefs immediately before a stressful experience does not appear to mitigate the psychological and physiological impact, according to new research published in Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice. "For over a century, psychologists have argued...

Brief exposure to Judeo-Christian religious words can increase the endorsement of sexist attitudes among both men and women, according to a new study published in the journal Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. "Previous research in this area had found that...