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The correspondence between attachment to parents and God: three experiments using subliminal separation cues
Andreas Birgegard1, Pehr Granqvist
1Department of Psychology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. andreas.birgegard@psyk.uu.se
Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin
|September 11, 2004
Summary
Attachment theory explains religious development. Studies show secure attachment fosters religious behaviors, while insecure attachment decreases them, suggesting a link between parental and divine relationships.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Religious Studies
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Attachment theory provides a framework for understanding socioemotional development in religion.
- Previous correlational and self-report studies are limited by self-presentation bias and lack of causal inference.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally investigate the causal link between attachment system activation and religious development.
- To explore how attachment history influences responses to subliminal separation stimuli related to God or mother.
Main Methods:
- Three subliminal stimulation experiments were conducted.
- Participants were unconsciously exposed to separation stimuli referencing God or mother.
- Perceived attachment history with parents was assessed and used as a moderator.
Main Results:
- Activation of the attachment system influenced religious attachment behaviors.
- Secure attachment histories led to increased religious behaviors, while insecure histories led to decreased behaviors.
- Evidence suggested increased proximity-seeking behavior towards God in the experimental groups.
Conclusions:
- Internal working models of parental relationships correspond with models of God.
- Attachment security plays a crucial role in shaping religious development and relational dynamics with the divine.