Religious Identity: Conceptualization and measurement of thereligious self Público
Bell, David Matthew (2009)
Published
Abstract
Abstract Within the social sciences and humanities, research into the formation and functioning of identity has gained much attention over the last few decades. However, each field has operated in relative isolation of the other. This dissertation draws together many different disciplines in order to better understand religious identity. Psychological research in identity has begun to question the notion of measuring a global identity for each person, and instead, to consider modular domains of identity functioning. First, the dissertation offers a theoretical background for religious identity. By thoroughly investigating the conceptual development of identity in Erik Erikson's work, the project shows numerous insights into and problems with the current measurement paradigm of identity. It then looks at current research into autobiographical memory through cognitive science and considers several aspects of evolutionary psychology and identity. This section argues that religious identity is a core concept for the psychological study of religion, even though the field has largely overlooked this factor. Secondly, the project develops a conceptual foundation for an empirical measure of religious identity by first reviewing the current research in the interaction between religion and identity, and then by carefully laying out a foundation for religious identity salience and a reinterpretation of Marcia's four identity statuses specific to religious identity functioning. Finally, the project offers a empirical project as a preliminary religious identity measurement. The measure is given to 650 participants and the data in described in detail. The dissertation shows that religious identity often implicitly functions in individuals in a subconscious fashion. Social approval bias and "deity approval bias" are suggested as explanations for explicit increases in reported religious identity salience. Finally, the data supports the conceptual validity of four religious identity statuses operating among the participants. Various results show that age and religious backgrounds are very important factors in religious identity formation.
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Academic Context 3
Thesis, Organization, and Design 5
Chapter 1: Synonyms of Self: Erikson and Quest for Identity 12
Biography 14
Configurational Approach 21
Ego, Ego boundaries, and Ego Growth 25
Erikson's Epigenetic Theory 28
Erikson's Conception of Ego Identity 32
Erikson's Psychosocial Model 39
Developing Ego Identity: Erikson After 1950 48
Chapter 2: A Multidimensional Approach to Identity 62
Autobiographical Memory and Implicit Memory 66
Social Construction of Autobiographical Memory 68
Ontogenetic Construction of Autobiographical Memory 69
Possible Selves 74
Narrative Theory and the Construction of the Self 77
Evolutionary Psychology 88
A Multidimensional Approach 94
Chapter 3: Review of Identity and Religion Measures 96
Marcia's Paradigm 97
Domain Specificity 105
Religiosity Measures 108
Chapter 4: A Conceptual Foundation for Religious Identity 112
Multidimensional Approach to Religious Identity 113
Implicit and Explicit Aspects of Religious Identity 114
Religious Identity Formation 117
Religious Identity Diffusion 119
Religious Identity Foreclosure 120
Religious Identity Moratorium 121
Religious Identity Integration 121
In Dialogue with Fowler's Stages 122
Transcendence 123
Religious Identity Focus 124
Religious Identity in the Sociopolitical Realm 124
Measuring Religious Identity 125
Chapter 5: Measuring Religious Identity 127
Preliminary Aspects in Construct Validity 127
Scale Construction 130
Religious Identity Salience (RISa) 131
Religious Identity Statuses (RISt) 134
Religious Identity Diffusion Items 137
Religious Identity Foreclosure Items 138
Religious Identity Moratorium Items 141
Religious Identity Integration Items 144
Chapter 6: Measuring Religious Identity - Methods and Results 148
Sample 148
Procedure 153
Results 155
Religious Identity Salience 155
Religious Identity Status 162
Religious Identity Diffusion 163
Religious Identity Foreclosure 165
Religious Identity Moratorium 168
Religious Identity Integration 170
Religious Identity Correlations 173
Statistical Analysis for Age 177
Statistical Analysis for Religious Background 179
Chapter 7: Measuring Religious Identity - Discussion and Review 185
Religious Identity Salience 186
Religious Identity Statuses 191
Bibliography 214
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