Gender differences in religious behavior: Applying a selective incentives model of religion

Mary Ann Kanieski, Purdue University

Abstract

A major finding in the sociology of religion has been the gender gap in religiosity. In study after study, women have been found to display higher rates of religiosity as indicated by variables such as church attendance, church membership, and orthodoxy of belief. Previous work has utilized psychological and structural explanations to account for the gender gap in religiosity. However, such approaches are limited because they deny the subjectivity of religious individuals. This project argues for a rational choice heuristic to understanding the gender gap in religiosity. In particular, this project argues that it is selective incentives, the unofficial rewards for participation in a congregation, which account for religiosity in general and the gender gap in particular. Selective incentives may account for the gender gap in religiosity because they may be more attractive to women than men. In order to test this theory, a Baptist and Methodist congregation was surveyed. Degree of religiosity was indicated by church attendance and hours spent in church related activities. Selective incentives were divided into two groups: social and religious. Social incentives were represented by an index composed of three items related to enjoying the community, the ministers, and the worship service. Religious incentives were represented by an index composed of three items related to seeking religious truth, feeling close to God in church, and receiving something in church that can't be received anywhere else. Three hypotheses were proposed: (1) women would display a higher rate of religiosity, (2) selective incentives would predict religious participation, and (3) the impact of selective incentives would be mediated by gender. Support for the first hypothesis was weak. A gender gap in religiosity was only partially observed for the Baptists and did not emerge within the Methodist congregation. Support for the second hypothesis was strong as social incentives predicted Baptists religiosity and both social and religious incentives positively predicted Methodist religiosity. The third hypothesis was supported as the impact of social incentives was much stronger for Baptist women than Baptist men and the impact of religious incentives was stronger for Methodist men compared to Methodist women.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Finke, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Sociology

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