WHAT IS RELIGIOSITY? A LOGICAL LEARNING ANALYSIS
Abstract
Logical Learning Theory, a teleological approach to the understanding of human behavior, posits that the material-efficient causal emphasis of much of psychology is misplaced, and that formal and final causal explanations are more appropriate in describing human behavior. The present discussion opens with a review of the place of formal and final causality in science in general and social psychology in particular. Consideration is then given to previous research utilizing the Causal Constructs Scale, an instrument measuring orientation toward each of the four causes in one's social interactions. This is followed by a discussion of two major approaches to religiosity: Allport's intrinsic-extrinsic concept, and Batson's means-end-quest approach. A meta-analysis of the research concerning intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity produced three major conclusions: (1) The relationship between intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity is related to the theology of the sample; the more conservative the theology, the stronger the negative correlation tends to be. (2) Intrinsic religiosity forms relationships primarily with variables dealing with religious topics (fear of death, religious belief) and "mental health" (internal locus of control, purpose in life), and is unrelated or negatively related to variables such as dogmatism and prejudice, generally considered "negatively evaluated" social characteristics. Extrinsic religiosity, on the other hand, is positively correlated with negatively evaluated social characteristics and negatively correlated or uncorrelated with religious variables. (3) The fourfold typology utilizing median splits on intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity is largely untested. Few studies use the full typology. Of those that do, many simply produce main effects corresponding to the results obtained with the individual scales. Concerning the means-end-quest approach, evidence was presented that the means dimension is largely Allport's extrinsic religiosity scale, the end dimension is primarily Allport's intrinsic religiosity scale, and quest is almost exclusively the "interactional" or quest religiosity scale. Note was also made of the uniqueness of the quest dimension and its lack of relationship to other forms of religiosity. In light of these considerations, hypotheses were offered suggesting that intrinsic religiosity is primarily related to formal and final causality, that extrinsic religiosity is primarily related to material causality, and that quest religiosity is primarily related to efficient and formal causality. Orientation toward material, efficient, formal, and final causality were operationalized by scores on the substance, impetus, pattern and intention subscales of the Causal Constructs Scale, respectively. In addition, hypotheses were offered concerning the relation of the four causal constructs to the fourfold intrinsic-extrinsic typology. Testing these hypotheses with correlational analyses provided some support for the hypotheses concerning intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity, but little support for the hypotheses concerning quest religiosity. Analysis of the data utilizing profile analysis provided marginal support for the hypothesis concerning intrinsic religiosity, but little support for the other hypotheses. A hypothesis was also offered concerning the relationship between church attendance and the substance construct, but no significant relationship between the two was observed. In discussing these results, note was made of the general agreement between the results obtained and the findings of the meta-analysis. Suggestions were made concerning the refinement of the Causal Constructs Scale by constructing items from an introspective rather than extraspective perspective, and by concentrating primarily on substance and intention constructs in future research.
Degree
Ph.D.
Subject Area
Social psychology
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