TY - JOUR
T1 - Why religion's burdens are light
T2 - From religiosity to implicit self-regulation
AU - Koole, Sander L.
AU - McCullough, Michael E.
AU - Kuhl, Julius
AU - Roelofsma, Peter H.M.P.
PY - 2010/2
Y1 - 2010/2
N2 - To maintain religious standards, individuals must frequently endure aversive or forsake pleasurable experiences. Yet religious individuals on average display higher levels of emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. The present article seeks to resolve this paradox by suggesting that many forms of religion may facilitate a self-regulatory mode that is flexible, efficient, and largely unconscious. In this implicit mode of self-regulation, religious individuals may be able to strive for high standards and simultaneously maintain high emotional well-being. A review of the empirical literature confirmed that religious stimuli and practices foster implicit self-regulation, particularly among individuals who fully internalized their religion's standards. The present work suggests that some seemingly irrational aspects of religion may have important psychological benefits by promoting implicit self-regulation.
AB - To maintain religious standards, individuals must frequently endure aversive or forsake pleasurable experiences. Yet religious individuals on average display higher levels of emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. The present article seeks to resolve this paradox by suggesting that many forms of religion may facilitate a self-regulatory mode that is flexible, efficient, and largely unconscious. In this implicit mode of self-regulation, religious individuals may be able to strive for high standards and simultaneously maintain high emotional well-being. A review of the empirical literature confirmed that religious stimuli and practices foster implicit self-regulation, particularly among individuals who fully internalized their religion's standards. The present work suggests that some seemingly irrational aspects of religion may have important psychological benefits by promoting implicit self-regulation.
KW - Automatic process
KW - Implicit process
KW - Religion
KW - Self-regulation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=75849119826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=75849119826&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1088868309351109
DO - 10.1177/1088868309351109
M3 - Article
C2 - 19949046
AN - SCOPUS:75849119826
VL - 14
SP - 95
EP - 107
JO - Personality and Social Psychology Review
JF - Personality and Social Psychology Review
SN - 1088-8683
IS - 1
ER -