Title

Accessibility of religious beliefs

School/Department

Rosemead School of Psychology

Publication Date

12-2008

Abstract

We used reaction time techniques to study individual differences in accessibility of beliefs about the reality of religious targets. Moderately religious people were slower than religious or irreligious people. Religious people were faster than non-religious people. Reaction times to classify religious stimuli are stable over 8 days. We also found that religious people with accessible beliefs have the highest well-being, and that religious beliefs correspond to greater levels of religious behavior when the reality of religious stimuli is accessible. These results further our understanding on natural individual differences in attitude accessibility and add to our understanding of religious beliefs, including their impact.

Keywords

Attitude (Psychology); Faith

Publication Title

Journal of Research in Personality

Volume

42

Issue

6

First Page

1408

Last Page

1417

DOI of Published Version

10.1016/j.jrp.2008.06.001

Link to Full Text

Share

COinS