Official Course
Description: MCCCD Approval: 3-25-2003 |
||
PSY225
2010 Summer I - 9999 |
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: Global
Awareness - [G] General Education Designation: Social and Behavioral
Sciences - [SB] |
||
Go to Competencies Go to Outline
MCCCD
Official Course Competencies: |
|
|
|
PSY225 2010
Summer I - 9999 |
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 2010
Summer I - 9999 |
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 |