Abstract
Emmons (1999) demonstrated that spiritual motivations can be assessed through personal goal strivings that are oriented toward the transcendent. This study used a nomothetic approach to the measurement of goal strivings and attempted to link spiritual strivings to many of the attributes (a) championed by the positive psychology movement (e.g., Seligman, 2002) and (b) consistent with classic theories of healthy personality development and functioning (e.g., Erikson, 1968; Maslow, 1971; Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2001; Schawrtz, 1992). Using a sample of college students, we found that spiritual, self-transcendent strivings were related as predicted with positive emotions (e.g., vitality and zest, satisfaction with life), psychological health (achieved identity, selfactualization tendencies), sense of meaning and purpose (self-actualization), capacity for intimate and selfless interpersonal relationships (secure attachments, intimacy, and generativity), other-oriented vs. self-oriented values (benevolence and universalism vs. power and hedonism), and healthy, intrinsic vs. egocentric motivations (intimacy vs. power). With only a few exceptions this research demonstrated that (a) goal strivings can be successfully assessed through a nomothetic strategy and (b) spirituality, approached via self-transcendent goal strivings, is related to a variety of positive characteristics consistent with positive psychology theory.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 18 |
| Editors | Ralph L. Piedmont, Ralph L. Piedmont |
| Publisher | Entomological Society of Canada |
| Pages | 263-279 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| ISBN (Electronic) | 9789004158511 |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2007 |
Publication series
| Name | Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion |
|---|---|
| Volume | 18 |
| ISSN (Print) | 1046-8064 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- History
- Religious studies
- Social Sciences (miscellaneous)
Cite this
The relationship between spirituality, assessed through self-transcendent goal strivings, and positive psychological attributes. / Leak, Gary K.; De Neve, Kristina M.; Greteman, Adam J.
Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 18. ed. / Ralph L. Piedmont; Ralph L. Piedmont. Entomological Society of Canada, 2007. p. 263-279 (Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion; Vol. 18).Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter
}
TY - CHAP
T1 - The relationship between spirituality, assessed through self-transcendent goal strivings, and positive psychological attributes
AU - Leak, Gary K.
AU - De Neve, Kristina M.
AU - Greteman, Adam J.
PY - 2007/1/1
Y1 - 2007/1/1
N2 - Emmons (1999) demonstrated that spiritual motivations can be assessed through personal goal strivings that are oriented toward the transcendent. This study used a nomothetic approach to the measurement of goal strivings and attempted to link spiritual strivings to many of the attributes (a) championed by the positive psychology movement (e.g., Seligman, 2002) and (b) consistent with classic theories of healthy personality development and functioning (e.g., Erikson, 1968; Maslow, 1971; Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2001; Schawrtz, 1992). Using a sample of college students, we found that spiritual, self-transcendent strivings were related as predicted with positive emotions (e.g., vitality and zest, satisfaction with life), psychological health (achieved identity, selfactualization tendencies), sense of meaning and purpose (self-actualization), capacity for intimate and selfless interpersonal relationships (secure attachments, intimacy, and generativity), other-oriented vs. self-oriented values (benevolence and universalism vs. power and hedonism), and healthy, intrinsic vs. egocentric motivations (intimacy vs. power). With only a few exceptions this research demonstrated that (a) goal strivings can be successfully assessed through a nomothetic strategy and (b) spirituality, approached via self-transcendent goal strivings, is related to a variety of positive characteristics consistent with positive psychology theory.
AB - Emmons (1999) demonstrated that spiritual motivations can be assessed through personal goal strivings that are oriented toward the transcendent. This study used a nomothetic approach to the measurement of goal strivings and attempted to link spiritual strivings to many of the attributes (a) championed by the positive psychology movement (e.g., Seligman, 2002) and (b) consistent with classic theories of healthy personality development and functioning (e.g., Erikson, 1968; Maslow, 1971; Ryan & Deci, 2000, 2001; Schawrtz, 1992). Using a sample of college students, we found that spiritual, self-transcendent strivings were related as predicted with positive emotions (e.g., vitality and zest, satisfaction with life), psychological health (achieved identity, selfactualization tendencies), sense of meaning and purpose (self-actualization), capacity for intimate and selfless interpersonal relationships (secure attachments, intimacy, and generativity), other-oriented vs. self-oriented values (benevolence and universalism vs. power and hedonism), and healthy, intrinsic vs. egocentric motivations (intimacy vs. power). With only a few exceptions this research demonstrated that (a) goal strivings can be successfully assessed through a nomothetic strategy and (b) spirituality, approached via self-transcendent goal strivings, is related to a variety of positive characteristics consistent with positive psychology theory.
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M3 - Chapter
T3 - Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion
SP - 263
EP - 279
BT - Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, Volume 18
A2 - Piedmont, Ralph L.
A2 - Piedmont, Ralph L.
PB - Entomological Society of Canada
ER -