Monday, April 10, 2023

Religious Orientation - Psychology of Religion




Religious orientation is a psychological construct that refers to the way in which individuals relate to their religious beliefs and practices. There are three main types of religious orientation: intrinsic, extrinsic, and quest.


Intrinsic religious orientation is characterized by a deep and personal commitment to religion. People with this orientation view religion as a central and important part of their lives, and they use it to guide their thoughts, feelings, and actions. They find comfort and strength in their religious beliefs, and they often turn to religion in times of need.


Extrinsic religious orientation is characterized by the use of religion to achieve non-religious goals. People with this orientation may use religion to feel good about themselves, to gain social approval, or to cope with stress. They may not be deeply committed to their religious beliefs, and they may not see religion as a central part of their lives.


Quest religious orientation is characterized by a search for meaning and understanding in life. People with this orientation are open to new ideas and experiences, and they are willing to question their religious beliefs. They are not satisfied with easy answers, and they are constantly seeking to deepen their understanding of religion.


The concept of religious orientation was first proposed by Gordon Allport and James M. Ross in their 1967 book "Personal Religious Orientation and Prejudice." Allport and Ross argued that there are two main types of religious orientation: intrinsic and extrinsic. Intrinsic religious orientation is characterized by a deep and personal commitment to religion, while extrinsic religious orientation is characterized by the use of religion to achieve non-religious goals.


In 1971, C. Daniel Batson proposed a third type of religious orientation: quest orientation. Quest orientation is characterized by a search for meaning and understanding in life. Batson argued that quest orientation is an important part of mature religion, and that it is associated with a number of positive outcomes, such as greater cognitive complexity and openness to new experiences.


Research on religious orientation has shown that it is a significant predictor of a variety of behaviors and attitudes. For example, intrinsic religious orientation is associated with greater prosocial behavior, while extrinsic religious orientation is associated with greater prejudice. Quest religious orientation is associated with greater cognitive complexity and openness to new experiences.

Religious orientation is a complex construct that has been studied by psychologists for many years. It is a useful framework for understanding the ways in which individuals relate to their religious beliefs and practices.


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