The psychology of religion : an empirical approach /
Ralph W. Hood, Jr., Peter C. Hill, Bernard Spilka.
- Fifth Edition.
- xvi, 656 pages ; 26 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 511-610) and indexes.
The psychological nature and functions of religion -- Foundations for an empirical psychology of religion -- Evolution, neuropsychology, and other biological aspects of religion -- Religion in childhood -- Religion in adolescence and young adulthood -- Adult religious issues -- Religion, aging, and death -- Conversion, spiritual transformation, and deconversion -- Relationships between individuals and religious groups -- Religious and spiritual experience -- Mysticism -- Religion, morality, and prejudice -- Religion, health, psychopathology, and coping -- Epilogue.
Keeping up with the rapidly growing research base, the leading graduate-level psychology of religion text is now in a fully updated fifth edition. It takes a balanced, empirically driven approach to understanding the role of religion in individual functioning and social behavior. Integrating research on numerous different faith traditions, the book addresses the quest for meaning; links between religion and biology; religious thought, belief, and behavior across the lifespan; experiential dimensions of religion and spirituality; the social psychology of religious organizations; and connections to coping, adjustment, and mental disorder. Chapter-opening quotations and topical research boxes enhance the readability of this highly instructive text."