Religiosity and the Motivation for Social Affiliation

Area of Science:

• Social Psychology
• Psychology of Religion

Background:

• Social affiliation motivation is universal but influenced by individual differences and target characteristics.
• Religions often promote affiliation and provide opportunities for social connection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between religious beliefs and identity and social affiliation motivation.
• To explore how religiosity influences general social affiliation and affiliation with specific targets.

Main Methods:

• Three studies examined religiosity, implicit and behavioral measures of social affiliation.
• Affiliation target identity was manipulated, including a threatening out-group (atheist).

Main Results:

• Religiosity positively correlated with general social affiliation motivation and behaviors.
• The link between religiosity and affiliation weakened when affiliation outcomes were uncertain.
• Religiosity did not predict affiliation with an atheist out-group.

Conclusions:

• Religiosity generally enhances social affiliation motivation.
• Social affiliation motivation influenced by religiosity is constrained by perceptions of the affiliation target.
• Findings have implications for understanding social influence and intergroup dynamics.