Religion is linked to self-esteem for two main reasons. The first reason why religion is related to self-esteem in empirical studies is that personal religiosity may increase what is known as locus of control: the sense that God and practices like prayer facilitate control over life events and personal psychological issues. Laoire (1997) conducted a randomized, controlled, double-blind study in which 90 "agents" prayed for 406 subjects. The results showed that both subjects and agents of distant intercessory prayer improved on self-esteem self-assessments (O'Laoire, 1997). Agents, those who prayed, revealed the most significant improvements on self-esteem measures, indicating that locus of control may be a reason for the link between religiosity and self-esteem. The act of praying for other people may confer the sense of empowerment and social connection that are more important for raising self-esteem than the prayer itself or any supernatural element. The results of the O'Laoire (1997) study substantiate prior research showing that religion is linked to locus of control, which is itself connected to the definition of self-esteem (Benson & Spika, 1973). A sample of 128 Catholic subjects whose religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds varied little showed that those who held "loving-accepting God-images" scored higher on self-esteem measures versus those who held "rejecting images" of God (Benson & Spika, 1973). Self-esteem may determine one's image or concept of God, and vice-versa. In addition to locus of control being related to personal religious beliefs, perhaps the most important connection between religion and self-esteem is psycho-social. Believers have higher social self-esteem in prior literature, something that has been proven true across cultures (Gebauer, Sedikides & Neberich, 2011). Gebauer, Sedikides & Neberich (2011) postulate that religion is linked to self-esteem because in many societies, religion has relatively high social...
Therefore, in cultures that do not value religion, the effect will be weaker. In strongly secular communities, it is possible that religion could be negatively associated with self-esteem but there is as of yet no research to support this claim. Participation in a community is the key and requisite factor in raising self-esteem. Moreover, religion does provide a stable sense of self and a stable ego concept -- factors that can provide high self-esteem as it is measured on psychological surveys (Biazek & Besta, 2012). Because religion provides a sense of belonging in a community much as ethnic or national identity does, self-esteem would measure higher in a believer.
Religious Participation Is Linked to Self-Esteem Why? Locus of Control What is it? Locus of Control is the sense of being in control Studies show that Locus of Control is related to Self-Esteem Studies also show that praying can improve Locus of Control, probably because praying makes people feel powerful and it might also help people feel like they are doing good things for other people. Locus of Control is part of the definition of self-esteem
Self and Social Psychology Social psychology is a relatively new field of study in modern science. Its focus is on the identity of the "Self" -- the sense of individuality: the component parts that make up who one "is" and the meaning of the "whole" Self. This paper acts as a referenced for individuals unfamiliar with the general principles of social psychology. It aims to provide the reader with a basic
Religion Good for Children? Faith and religion are significant components to every religious family with regards to raising a child or children. Notably, every religious individual and family will always claim that their path or religion is the correct one. Therefore, it impossible to find parents or families that would mistakenly choose the wrong religion or path for their children. In attempts to take their responsibility of raising children to
Cheesman (2002) conducted a study on Karen identity in the Union of Myanmar with regards to historical and social conditions. The study found that Karen identity is a relatively difficult identity because individuals from this ethnic background do not have a common language, material attributes, religion and culture. While most of the existing assessments of this ethnic identity have been carried out in Thailand, it is largely influenced by historical
Athlete Lauren Lappin was at the pinnacle of her lifelong passion sport after she adapted to any role in the softball field. Peace that fueled Lappin's success came from accepting the role she struggled to embrace. In an interview, Lappin highlighted her understanding as an openly gay athlete during the 2008 Beijing Olympics as well as her experiences of coming out to her teammates and family, and the increasing acceptance
Religion and Leadership Core religious and philosophical worldviews have a strong bearing on leadership style and effectiveness. Religious and philosophical worldviews provide the ethical and moral foundations for decision-making, which is a critical component of leadership. Moreover, religious and philosophical worldviews impact the ways leaders guide, teach, and serve others. Worldview extends beyond religion. Defined loosely as "visions of life," worldviews encompass the "beliefs, values, and principles" that guide behavior and motivate
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