An attachment-theoretical approach to romantic love and religious belief

LA Kirkpatrick, PR Shaver�- Personality and Social�…, 1992 - journals.sagepub.com
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 1992journals.sagepub.com
This study conceptualizes personal religion, like romantic love, in terms of attachment theory
and explores empirical relationships between adult attachment style and religious belief and
behavior in an adult sample. Respondents who classified themselves as secure reported
greater religious commitment and more positive images of God than insecure respondents.
Avoidant respondents were more likely to describe themselves as agnostics;
anxious/ambivalent respondents were more likely to report having had a glossolalia�…
This study conceptualizes personal religion, like romantic love, in terms of attachment theory and explores empirical relationships between adult attachment style and religious belief and behavior in an adult sample. Respondents who classified themselves as secure reported greater religious commitment and more positive images of God than insecure respondents. Avoidant respondents were more likely to describe themselves as agnostics; anxious/ambivalent respondents were more likely to report having had a glossolalia experience. Security of attachment to God was positively associated with security of adult attachment, but only among respondents who described their childhood maternal attachments as insecure. Attachment to God, in contrast to other religion variables, was strongly and significantly related to several mental and physical health outcomes. Results are interpreted in terms of mental models of attachment relationships, including relationships with God.
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