|
Official Course
Description: MCCCD Approval: 3-25-2003 |
||
|
PSY225 2004 Fall – 2010 Spring |
LEC 3.0 Credit(s) 3.0 Period(s) 3.0 Load Acad |
|
|
Psychology
of Religion |
||
|
Provides an introduction to the history, varieties and theories
of the psychology of religion from an empirical, research-based perspective.
Specific areas of study include the role of gender, age, socioeconomic
status, and personality on religious experience, the effects of religion and
prayer on mental and physical health, the development of religious thought
and behavior over the lifespan, and the social psychology of new religious
movements. In addition, the role of cultural differences on religious
attitudes both within the USA and around the world is also addressed. Prerequisites: PSY101 or Permission of
Instructor. Course Attribute(s): General Education Designation:
Cultural Diversity - [C] General Education Designation:
Global Awareness - [G] General Education
Designation: Social and Behavioral Sciences - [SB] |
||
Go to Competencies Go to Outline
|
MCCCD
Official Course Competencies: |
|
|
|
|
|
PSY225 2004
Fall – 2010 Spring |
Psychology of Religion |
|
1.
|
Describe the diversity of the religious experience and
outline the role William James played in it's psychological description (I). |
|
2.
|
Compare the strengths and weaknesses of studying religion from
a psychological perspective (I). |
|
3.
|
Identify the key difficulties in forming a psychological
description of religious experience. (I). |
|
4.
|
Explain the importance of understanding the diversity of religious
experience within the USA and across the world. (I, II) |
|
5.
|
Discuss the how culture affects religious outlooks and how
religion informs an individual's worldview. (II). |
|
6.
|
Outline the variety of ordinary and extraordinary
religious experience, and describe the factors- personality, culture, gender,
and socioeconomic factors- that affect the interpretation of these
experiences (II, V). |
|
7.
|
Describe the conversion experience and list the factors that
underlie this experience (III). |
|
8.
|
Discuss the
role of mystical experiences in religion, and compare and contrast how these
experiences are understood in Eastern and Western traditions (III). |
|
9.
|
Outline the hypothesized religious and moral development
of individuals (IV). |
|
10.
|
Describe how religious behavior and attitudes change
during early and late adulthood (IV). |
|
11.
|
Explain how gender differences influence the religious
experience (IV) . |
|
12.
|
Compare how various religious traditions address death
(IV). |
|
13.
|
Assess the role that German psychological tradition played
in understanding the psychology of religion (V). |
|
14.
|
Assess how the American humanistic tradition influenced contemporary
research into the psychology of religion (V). |
|
15.
|
Describe the
use of prayer in the religious experience and contrast the gender, cultural,
and socioeconomic factors that influence prayer (VI). |
|
16.
|
Evaluate the effects of religion on mental health and
discuss how various religious traditions view mental health (VI). |
|
17.
|
Discuss how social influences affect the individual's
religious experience (VII). |
|
18.
|
Describe the rise of new religious movements (NRMs) across
the globe and assess the factors that contribute to their rise (VII). |
|
19.
|
Compare and contrast the research that examines how
religion influences cross-cultural relationships (VII). |
Go to Description Go to top of
Competencies
|
MCCCD
Official Course Outline: |
|
|
|
|
|
PSY225 2004
Fall – 2010 Spring |
Psychology of Religion |
|
I. Introduction to the
Psychology of Religion A. The Beginnings of the
Psychology of Religion: James B. The relationship of the
science of psychology to religion C. Defining psychology of
religion D. Empirical methodologies
used in the investigation of religion E. Current topics in the
Psychology of Religion around the world II. The varieties of Religion
A. Religious diversity in
the modern world B. The role of culture in
the formation of religion C. The role of religion in
forming world outlooks III. Religious Experience A. Ordinary and
extraordinary religious experiences 1. Factors related to
interpretation of religious experiences a. Socioeconomic b. Gender c. Cultural B. Conversion C. Mysticism 1. Western traditions 2. Eastern traditions IV. Religious Development A. Development of religious
thinking B. Moral development C. Gender differences in
religious development D. Religious Development in
adulthood 1. Gender differences in
adult religiosity E. Religious development in
late adulthood F. Religion and death
across cultures V. Religion and personality
A. The German Tradition 1. Freud 2. Jung B. The American Humanistic
Tradition 1. Allport
2. Maslow 3. Frankl
C. Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic
religiosity 1. Gender differences 2. Cultural differences 3. Socioeconomic factors VI. Religion and mental and
physical health A. Use of prayer for
healing 1. Gender factors 2. Across cultures 3. Across socioeconomic
groups B. Physiological processes
in the religious experience C. Religion and adjustment D. Religion and mental
disorders across cultures VII. The social psychology
of religion A. Social psychology of
religious organizations B. The growth of new
religious movements C. Religious differences
across cultural boundaries |