Religious Deidentification and Psychology

Leaving church behind 2023
Geoffrey W Sutton & Bing Images

In the psychology of religion, religious deidentification refers to a change from endorsing a religious self-identity to no longer identifying as religious.

Although the concept appears similar to deconversion, it is different because the focus is on a change in self-identity rather than a focus on leaving a religious tradition.  Also, deidentification may be nuanced as people continue some aspects of a previous religious identity. The persistent features have been called religious residue. See Van Tongeren & DeWall (2021).

Reference

Van Tongeren, D. R., & DeWall, C. N. (2021). Disbelief, disengagement, discontinuance, and disaffiliation: An integrative framework for the study of religious deidentification. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000434

Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is  www.suttong.com

 

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