Description
Researchers and students in psychology of religion, religious studies, and social and personality psychology. Also of interest to sociologists. May serve as a text in graduate-level courses.
Read More
Should psychologists study religion/spirituality? Paloutzian (Westmont College, Santa Barbara) and Park (U. of Connecticut) answer this query in the affirmative by framing religion as a unique meaning or belief system. Drawing on subdisciplines including neuropsychology, psychodynamic and evolutionary psychology, international contributors to 30 chapters offer diverse theoretical and empirical perspectives on this approach. E.g., until recently, study of the development of religious/spiritual cognition was neglected. They also treat religion in relation to such standard topics in the field as personality, stress, and international relations (including religiously-fueled terrorism). The editors conclude that this research path must be widened by going global and multidisciplinary. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read Less