1
Define an Authoritarian God concept
Concept of God as strict, punishing, and rule focused.
Define a Benevolent God Concept
Concept of God as loving, forgiving, nurturing.
Define Prosocial Behavior
Actions intended to benefit others, such as volunteerism.
Define Antisocial Behavior
Actions intended to harm others, such as aggression.
Define Volunteerism
Volunteerism is the practice of offering time, skills, or services freely for the benefit of others or a cause, without expecting financial compensation.
Which religious groups were surveyed in all three studies?
Catholics and non-Catholic Christians
Why did the researchers only focus on Catholics and non-Catholic Christians?
Since approximately 78% of the U.S. population self-reports being Catholic or non-Catholic Christian
What was the purpose of this study: Friends in High Places: The Influence of Authoritarian and Benevolent God-Concepts on Social Attitudes and Behaviors?
To determine whether religious people that express prosocial or antisocial attitudes and behaviors are associated with their God concept.
What was the big question that was mentioned on slide #5?
How can religious people cause both so much harm and so much good to society?
What was the average age of the participants?
20 or 20.4
What was the prediction of study 1?
Belief of an authoritarian God will lead to increased aggression towards perceived threats.
What was the prediction of study 2?
Belief of a benevolent God will lead to increased prosocial behaviors such as volunteerism and willingness to aid religious outgroups
How many times did a penguin appear on the slides?
4 times
What was the topic of study 3?
Effects on Priming Benevolent and Authoritarian God-Concepts on Aggression and Prosociality
What was the main take-away in the overall study?
Your God concept influences antisocial behavior or prosocial behavior if you are a non Catholic Christian.
What items were participants shown in the third study?
They were shown (7) art images
What was the third God concept tested in the study?
The Spirit
Which God concept led to the most forgiving and prosocial behaviors?
The Spirit
Who participated in the study?
Catholic and non-Catholic Christian college students.
Why might Catholic participants not have shown the same effects as non-Catholics?
More exposed to religious iconography
What did belief in a Benevolent God predict?
More prosociality
What did belief in an authoritarian God predict?
More antisociality or aggression
What does the study suggest about religion’s influence on morality?
Depends on your God concept.
What statistical test did the researchers use for their study?
Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA)
What images was the control group shown?
Abstract art.