Psych of Religion Final Exam

According to Kohlberg's theory, a person who is speeding down the interstate and slows down when he/she sees a police officer is probably operating at Stage ____ Morality

1

Describe three reasons why the position a person takes (of the Four Positions) on the uniqueness of religious experience matters.

1. Your position on the uniqueness of religious experience is likely to influence the methods you use to study it 2. The position you take will influence the starting point (assumptions) of your study 3. If you hold Position 4, you are more likely to believe that natural and supernatural explanations cannot both be correct

According to your text, the frequency of religious obsessions in populations with OCD in the United states has been estimated at between _________.

10% and 30%

According to your text, children as young as age ___ prefer a teleological explanation for the origin of the earth (origins occur due to a purpose or design)

4

According to your text, over the last two decades the percentage of young adults who describe themselves as religious has remained fairly consistent at ____ percent

76

In Mohr et al (2006) study, a total of ____ percent of schizophrenic patients reported religion as a component (either instilling hope or despair) in their condition

85%

The term religio refers to:

A greater than human power that requires a person to respond in a certain way to avoid dire consequences

In modern use, the term Spirituality tends to connotate:

A sense of inner reverence for, devotion to, and ordering one's life around a transcendent power (God)

According to your text, there are four ways religion and culture might relate to each other: [A], [B], [C], and [D]

A) religions can be considered cultures B)religions and ethnic or national cultures may be empirically and theoretically inseparable C) religion can be seen as the result of other cultural influences (religion as a subculture) D) religions may moderate (interact with) other cultural influences

According to your text and the Chapter 6 PPT slides, religious commitment is correlated with: increased likelihood of producing offspring an internal restraining mechanism (self-control) suppression of people's individual interests in favor of a group Correct all of the answers are correct

All of the answers are correct

For Freud, God represented: an Exalted/Idealized Father figure a psychological creation a psychological process that recreates the Oedipus Complex during adulthood all of the answers are correct

All of the answers are correct

Your text defines sacred as Those qualities that are NOT mundane or ordinary something that is consecrated or set apart something that has numinous qualities all of the answers are correct

All of the answers are correct

One of the conclusions from the research is that persons with TLE have a(n) __________ that is overactivated, and therefore have heightened significance attached to everyday events

Amygdala

According to your text (and the PPT's), Religion/Spirituality correlate positively with the FFM factor(s): Agreeableness Conscientiousness Neuroticism Both A & B are true

Both A & B are true

Using the information in the Chapter 4 PPTs answer the following question: Jamie went to a charismatic worship service for the first time. Prior to this she has dismissed those services as "pure emotional experiences", however, during the service she experienced a presence that completely enfolded her and took over her consciousness. She could not put into words what the experience was like, and described it a completely different from anything else she ever experienced. Based on this description, Jamie is most likely to adhere to the Position which states that religious experience is _______________________________.

Completely unique

Explain the difference between emotional and decisional forgiveness (in your own words) and give examples of each. Also note the degree to which religion affects these types of forgiveness

Decisional forgiveness occurs when an individual makes a rational decision or statement to move on, turn away from any type of negative plots against the offender, and treat the offender with a certain level of respect. This does not mean that negative emotions are not present, however, as emotions such as resentment or anger towards the offender may still be present. If an individual finds out that a person borrowed his car without asking then he may choose to forgive the offender, but may still hold some negative emotions towards him. On the other hand, emotional forgiveness replaces these negative emotions with emotions that tend to be more positive such as sympathy. In the same scenario, the individual whose car was borrowed may be offended at first but then realize that the person truly needed to borrow the car and may forgive them by replacing the negative emotions with positive emotions such as compassion and empathy. Different religions may affect these types of forgiveness in different ways. Christianity focuses more on decisional forgiveness, and while some types of Buddhism may value compassion (pointing towards emotional forgiveness), other types may value detachment (pointing towards decisional forgiveness).

The two neurotransmitters that appear to be associated with religious cognitions and feelings are [A] and [B]

Dopamine Serotonin

According to your text, CSR scholars have tried to explain religion as a single "thing" out there to be explained

False

Historically, personality theorists have been negative and critical of the notion of religion/spirituality as healthy components of personality

False

Using the information in Chapter 11 as the foundation, answer the following question: Does the neurological research conclude that the brain causes religious experiences or merely reacts to them? Defend your answer

I think that the brain plays a very large role in behavior, and if religious experiences are simply considered another behavior, then I think that it is safe to say that the brain is able to cause or at the very least contribute to causing these experiences. I think that the best example of this comes from individuals with Parkinson's disease, where individuals with right forebrain damage specifically, had a great reduction in religiousness. Even individuals with autism spectrum disorders were found to have a reduction in religiousness. On the other hand, many individuals with heightened activity such as seen in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and even schizophrenia were seen to have increased levels of religiousness. I think that it is safe to say that certain areas of the brain are definitely causing these increases and decreases in religiousness and are thus causing the religious experiences themselves.

According to Fowler, it is during the __________ Stage that persons begin to develop an "executive ego" that helps them move from reliance on external authority for determining right/wrong

Individuative-reflective

From your text and the PPT slides from Chapter 2 the term [A] is related to religion as an end in itself, while [B] is related to religion as a means to an end

Intrinsic religion, extrinsic religion

Describe (don't just list) the differences between Intrinsic, Extrinsic and Quest dimensions of religion.

Intrinsically religious individuals find religion as an end and the guiding force in life, while extrinsically religious individuals see religion as a source and relief and protection. The Quest dimension is somewhat trickier as what the scale is actually measuring has been the subject of debate. Some individuals have argued that it does not actually measure religiousness but an attitude toward religion characterized by the continuous seekership without concern for closure.

Explain how Jung conceptualized the following religious ideas: God Christ Salvation/Conversion other Religions

Jung simply saw God as a construct of the psyche, and the ultimate archetype of wholeness. He believed that the experience of God gave individuals the strength to not be overcome by the monsters of the universe. Christ was seen as a symbol of the Self archetype and provided a basis for unity, harmony, and purpose for the personality. Salvation and conversion were a surrender of internal conflict or resistance to the Self. This allowed the Self to provide healing and helped the individual find meaning or purpose in life. Other religions had different names but the same archetypes. God was seen as being in opposition to the Shadow and all religions were seen as having essentially the same purpose.

According to your text, people who belive that God is a frequent, active agent on the world stage are _____ likely to be personally involved in politics (i.e. vote in elections)

Less

According to your text (Altmeyer, 2010) atheists report _____ rates of charitable (non-religious) contributions than churchgoers

Lower

Using the information from chapter 17 in your text answer the following question: In terms of social behavior and health, what do all religious groups appear to have in common?

Many religious people are prejudiced against people who are seen as threatening towards religious values, such as atheists or members of other religions. At the same time, many forms of religion are related to prosocial behaviors as well as self-control-behaviors such as low alcohol use, low drug use, and restricted sexuality. Most religions help individuals in finding meaning, providing social integration and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Research suggests that religion may have a positive effect on health across cultures.

According to your text (Ruckmick, 1920; Woodworth, 1940) Spirituality is considered to be a [A], while Religiousness is considered a [B]

Motive sentiment

Using the information in your text and the PPT sides answer the following question: What are the primary religious/moral developmental tasks that occur during adolescence?

Moving from external to internal perspectives on right/wrong, understanding that there is more than one perspective on most moral issues, constructing a coherent identity that matches with their morals, reflecting critically on moral issues (not just taking what they have been told as "truth")

Using the information in Chapter 17 of your text discuss three ways (don't just list) that persons from Eastern and Western religions differ psychologically

Much research has suggested that many psychological processes involved in Western religiosity are not the same in Eastern religions. There were multiple differences discussed in the chapter of how Eastern and Western religious individuals may differ psychologically. Miller found that being religious represented a risk-avoiding behavioral tendency in Western societies but not in Eastern societies. Easterners were also found to have less egocentrism, a weaker motivation for consistency, and more control of emotions when compared to Westerners.

Discuss whether you think religion can be realistically described as being the result of Natural Selection? Why/Why not? Defend your answer

Natural selection is generally described as a phenomenon that results in certain traits, behaviors, or characteristics persisting through generations due to those traits allowing us to adapt better to our environment and resulting in a greater likelihood of reproduction. As stated in the power points and text, religion is correlated with an increased likelihood of producing offspring, marital satisfaction, reduced conflict in child-rearing, and a more positive physical and mental health. It would make sense then to state that individuals that are religious are more likely to have offspring and are then more likely to pass on their genes. I think it should also be noted, however, that religion is not something that is purely genetic and is developed due to an interaction between genes and the environment.

According to your text (Wink, et al, 2007) levels of A, C, and O (from the FFM) during adolescence predicted spiritual seeking and religiousness in:

Old age

Using the information from the Chapter 4 PPTs answer the following question: Fred is an avowed atheist and a friend of Jamie. He explains her recent experience as being a powerful emotional reaction, similar to what someone might feel in a rock concert where they get caught up in the music and influence of the crowd. He explains that these kinds of things happen all the time and that it is nothing special. Based on this description, Fred is likely to adhere to Position __________ which states that religious experience is not unique from other human experiences.

One

Patients with damage to their brains due to [A] and [B] tend to show reduced religious ideas/behaviors

Parkinson's Disease Autism

According to Jung, the _____ archetype constituted our desire to hide our true nature in order to fit in with significant others.

Persona

According to Batson, the ____ orientation denotes a religion that is an open-ended process pursuing ultimate questions rather than answers

Quest

According to your text (Van Pachterbeke, Keller & Saroglou, 2012) the ____ dimension of religiousness was found to be more strongly associated with open-mindedness, openness to experience and lack of prejudice

Quest

Discuss (don't just list) three ways Religious Motivations can affect moral behavior (either postitively or negatively). Defend your answer

Religion brings about many reasons to conduct oneself morally. Many individuals associate moral behavior with positive outcomes after death, by believing that moral behavior will bring about salvation. This alone can be enough to lead people to act more morally by allowing them to focus on an ultimate goal. Immoral behavior is also associated with negative outcomes in many religions. In this way, individuals are more likely to be motivated to behave morally for fear that something bad might occur after their death. Another way in which religious motivations may affect moral behavior is through the presence of guilt. Many individuals may try to avoid feelings of guilt by acting in more moral ways. Guilt comes about most often when individuals fail to behave in what they believe to be virtuous ways and may believe that their actions offend God. In this way, individuals are less likely to repeat these types of behaviors in order to remove themselves from the presence of guilt.

Discuss (don't just list) three ways that religion assists in creating meaning for people

Religion can assist individuals in finding meaning in life in a number of ways. Religion as a whole can allow individuals to transcend their own concerns and connect with something greater. Religion gives individuals a sense of being apart of a bigger picture and contributing to a higher cause. Religion also allows individuals to feel a sense of significance. Religion also comes in many shapes and forms and allows individuals to find a very specific religion that suits them and gives them a place to feel cared for and included. Religion may also allow individuals to explain events and experiences in ways that satisfy them and allows them to continue on in everyday life.

Discuss the role religion plays in coping with stressful life experiences: Does it contribute to meaningful coping or is it the source of existential crises? Defend your answer

Religion may contribute the most to an individual during times of great stress. Religion may be threatened during these times of life, however, it also provides a great way for individuals to understand, reinterpret, and add value to difficult times. Individuals going through a great deal of trauma may find that religion is the only way to find meaning through their experiences. Religion influences how individuals experience stressful life experiences and may allow individuals to experiences these life events differently by understanding them in a less stressful way. Religion may help individuals through meaningful coping by allowing them to change how they see the event in the first place, religion then wouldn't be the source of the existential crisis, but the resolution of it.

In Jung's theory, the most important archetype, which unites all aspects of personality and seeks to achieve harmony and integration of all aspects of the personality is the _____.

Self

Define self-control and explain its connection to moral behavior (in your own words)

Self-control is the ability of an individual to overcome a response or possible action and therefore leads to a different action or outcome. This can be seen in many different ways in life, but in today's society, it is regularly seen in many individuals wishing to diet. Self-control allows individuals to resist temptation and allows for the ability to alter behavior. Without this ability, moral rules would not be useful at all. Without self-control, individuals may realize the difference between right and wrong but would have no power or desire to choose. Self-control allows individuals to make decisions based on the good of society by allowing individuals to overcome initial selfish or "wrong" impulses to conform to moral rules. Without self-control moral behavior would be nearly impossible.

According to Jung, the archetype that represents the dark, animalistic, more primitive side of personality is the _____.

Shadow

For centuries, scholars, doctors and scientists have noted that there is a link between a particular brain disorder(______), and religious experiences.

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Define the term personality

The unique and relatively stable, internal and external aspects of one's character that influence behavior in different situations

Using the information in chapter 12, define the term theomorphism and explain its significance, particularly in relation to childrens' developing understanding of the fallibility of beliefs. Use your own words... don't just quote what the text says

Theomorphism is when children attribute super-properties to humans and gods and then pare back those properties through development until they arrive at adult-like understandings of humans and gods. Early on (i.e. ages 3-4) children may assume parents are capable of knowing something (like the contents of a box that only the child has seen) that would be impossible for someone without superpowers (i.e. omniscience). As they get older they begin to understand that parents may not have those powers, but God still might. This appears to suggest that theological ideas about super-knowing, super-perceiving gods may be the default position children start with. They may learn, as they get older that humans certainly have limited power and knowledge and may eventually decide that there are NO beings with such powers. However, if they are brought up with religious teachings that ascribe these characteristics to transcendent beings they are more likely to maintin those ideas related to God (particularly since they are inclined to intuitively begin with those assumptions)

Discuss (don't just list) three types of deconversion and explain how each type contributes (or hinders) the personal growth of the individual

There are a few different types of deconversion. One is the idea of the pursuit of autonomy which is a long and gradual process where the individual steps out of the religious environment that he or she was born and raised in. This type of deconversion may lead to a search for individuation and the development of a new perspective. Individuals of this type of deconversion usually insist on their personal independence and making their own choices. Another type of deconversion is that of finding a new form of reference which is characterized by searching for and finding more guidance, intensity, and structure in religion. This usually includes a change to a higher tension group and involve a conversion experience referred to as reconversion. Before this reconversion, they may have tended towards atheism, interest in other world religions, or even drugs and depression, so this is seen as a complete change of life and morales. A third type of deconversion is debarred from paradise, which is characterized by a deep attachment to a religious tradition that is supposed to heal early trauma and guard against personal loss. Many of these individuals are midlife converts and the deconversion usually includes disappointment due to unfulfilled high expectations, abandonment of hopes and withdrawal of affection by religious leaders, and a need to give testimony of these traumatic experiences. These individuals may become secular, adopt a private religious practice, or continue searching, but they rarely join another religious organization. This leads to a strong rejection of the former belief system and a more open and exploring mind.

Using the information in your text and the PPT slides expalin why theorists like Folwer and Kohlberg thought that very few people ever make it to the highest levels of moral/faith development

Those levels of development require very sophisticated cognitive/thinking skills. They require persons to ask themselves very uncomfortable questions and struggle with inconsistencies or contradictions in their faith or morality. They may require them to take unpopular stances on moral issues or challenge policies that are based on narrow interpretations of good/bad

Freud (and Schmidt) believed that all religious traditions had their origins in ____________ religion.

Totem

Using the information in the Chapter 4 PPTs answer the following question: Chris has heard Fred and Jamie discuss her experience and interjects that it is easy to explain Jamie's experience from a physiological/social/psychological perspective, however, such experiences are more likely to occur in religious settings than in others. This explanation is most closely related to Position __________.

Two

n terms of the "Evolution of Human Understanding of the Universe", Freud believed that most of humanity was currently stuck in the second stage (Universal Neurosis) and society could only move forward if we:

abandon religion and adopt a realistic/scientific understanding of the nature of the universe

According to Krause (2005) although psychologists often assume that psychological wellbeing depends on an internal locus of control, some religious persons, particularly ______________________, show better outcomes in wellbeing when they embrace the idea of God-mediated control

african-american christians

According to research on social-connectedness for older adults, old people who attend church frequently experience: greater gratitude toward God more satisfaction with health a deeper sense of meaning in life all of the above are correct

all of the above

In a 2004 Dutch study it was found that parents who used strict and power-assertive childrearing practices, children are more likely to percieve God as:

angry, punishing and powerful

According to the FFM, R/S correlates negatively with neuroticism. This means that:

as scores in neuroticism go up, scores for R/S go down

According to Kohlberg, children at the ____ Level are most likely to use rules as the primary guide for moral behavior.

conventional/ law and order

Ainsworth et al (1978) identified 4 differt types of attachment patterns which included secure, avoidant, resistant and:

disorganized

In terms of Religion, Meaning, and Experience, research shows that the continuing decline in attendance of religious services is a strong indicator that, particularly for young people, spirituality and finding spiritual meaning in life is no longer important

false

According to your text (Rodriguez & Henderson, 2010), Christians scoring high in measures of Extrinsic religious orientation and biblical literalism scored _____ in measures of child abuse potential

higher

According to Guthrie (1980, 1993) humans have a perceptual bias to attend to:

human-like forms or events that could be caused by human-like beings

Your text assumes cognition to be characterized by two systems or dual processing approach. Theses two systems are [A] and [B]

intuitive reflective

Pascal Boyer suggested that religious ideas spread so successfully becasue they are:

minimally counterintuitive

According to your text, Arnett (2004) found that childhood religious socialization by parents had ____ influence in emerging adults' religiousness.

no

In a study with 4-11 year old American Protest children showed that those who percieved their parents as nurturing, percieved God as

nurturing

In Freud's conceptualization of the Doctrine of Atonement, the original sin was:

patricide

Kelemen (1999) and her colleagues suggested that children have a tendency to find design and purpose (in attributions about why things exist) that far exceed what their parents have taught them. She calls this tendency ____

promiscuous teleology

[A] Theory proposes that economically more developed societies are increasingly secular and that more educated people are less religious. The research evidence supporting this theory is [B]

secularization mixed

Margaret Evans (2001) found that children have a strong bias to:

see the world as purposefully designed by someone

Evolutionary Psychologists who study religious experience begin with the assumption that religion has at least 3 adaptive qualities: that is religion helps meet the need for [A], [B] and [C]

sociality meaningfulness Control

In relation to Attachment Theory, your text states that when children, whose insecure attachment to others leave them with inadequate coping strategies, experience times of intense levels of distress see God, and other religious figures, as _______

surrogate attachment figures

Bering, McLeod, and Shackleford (2005) proposed that beliefs in ________ were predisposed by evolution

the afterlife

Using the information from the Chapter 4 PPTs answer the following question: Carol (who has taken a class in the Psychology of Religion) approaches religious experience from the Third Position (on the uniqueness of religious experience) which is:

the causes/explanations for religious phenomena are not unique but the phenomena themselves are

According to your text (Saroglou, 2006) religiousness predicts prosocial (helping) acts directed toward ____, but not _____

those persons closest or most like them, but not far away or very different from them

Boyer and Lienard proposed that cultural rituals (religious and otherwise) have a basic purpose which is:

to protect people from unseen potential harms

According to Fowler, very few people ever reach the ___________ stage

universalizing