The Spiritual Aspect of the Self, Slides of Psychology of Human Development

Download The Spiritual Aspect of the Self and more Slides Psychology of Human Development in PDF only on Docsity! UNPACKING THE SELF: The Spiritual Self ~~ —_ Religion versus Spirituality Religion: –Latin religare: “to bind together” –Organizes the collective spiritual experiences of group of people into system of beliefs, practices, and rituals –Tradition, oral and written Studies and Mental Health Religious involvement associated with: – lower risk of depression – less anxiety – less substance abuse – Improved self-esteem – Less social isolation Inverse relationship between religious involvement and suicide. Negative Religiosity “I feel God is punishing me for my sins or lack of spirituality” “I wonder why God has abandoned me” “If I believed more/was a better person this wouldn’t have happened” Sees God as judgmental and punitive Positive Religiosity “I look to God for strength, support and guidance” “God will help me through this” Sees God as benevolent and caring Religious beliefs provide positive self esteem and image Prayer/meditation as coping mechanism Carl JungBroke with Freud in 1912 over Freud’s insistence that he omit references to religion in Psychology of the Unconscious Believed that humans are by nature religious “I attribute a positive value to all religions” Regarded the religious problems that the patient brought to therapy as relevant to the neurosis, and as possible causes of it Albert Einstein “Religion without science is blind; science without religion is lame” “Quantum mechanics is certainly imposing. But an inner voice tells me it is not yet the real thing. The theory says a lot, but does not really bring us any closer to the secret of the Old One. I, at any rate, am convinced that He does not throw dice”. “There is a central order to the universe, an order that can be directly apprehended by the soul in mystical union” Larry Dossey "I used to believe that we must choose between science and reason on one hand, and spirituality on the other, in how we lead our lives. Now I consider this a false choice. We can recover the sense of sacredness, not just in science, but in perhaps every area of life." - Larry Dossey, M.D. Psychology and Spirituality Near-death experiences – Accounts remarkably similar – “Bright light”, music, tunnel or passageway, feeling of great peace, someone there to receive them Death bed visions – Vast majority of dying individuals, families, and care-takers find the experience comforting and/or spiritually moving – 85% of nurses surveyed felt experiences were of a spiritual nature – Only 15 % attributed them to hallucinations Biology and Spirituality Approaches from multiple avenues: –Anatomy –Brain Imaging –Genetics Neurotheology Pinpoint which brain regions turn on or off during experiences that seem to exist outside time and space. Association areas in cerebral cortex – Visual – Orientation – Attention – Verbal conceptual Verbal descriptions of Experiences “As the river flowing east and west Merge in the sea and become one with it Forgetting that they were ever separate rivers, So do all creatures lose their separation When they merge at last into” Hindu Upanishads “I possessed God so fully that I was no longer in my previous customary state, but was led to find a peace in which I was united with God and was content with everything” Franciscan nun Genetics “Spirituality is among the most ubiquitous and powerful forces in human life” Genes can predispose us to believe. Don’t tell us WHAT to believe Temperament and Character Inventory TCI designed by Robert Cloninger. Researcher on genetics of addiction. Self-transcendence trait made up of: 1) Self-forgetfulness: To get entirely lost in an experience. 2) Transpersonal: Connectedness to the larger universe. 3) Mysticism: Openness to things not literally provable. The God Gene Selective Advantage – Important role God gene plays in selective advantage is to provide humans with an innate sense of optimism – Psychologically, optimism provides the will to live and procreate – Physically, optimism promotes better health and quicker recovery from disease Deep Meditation Powerful feelings begin to emerge. Time and space disappear. Feeling of peace. Lose world around you. Spiritual experience Centering prayer. Quiet, reflective state. A meditation class What are the benefits? Spirituality has a biological expression. Benefits: Provides good stress reducer. Neuroscientist Michael Persinger: “God experience is a brilliant adaptation. It’s a built-in pacifier.” Seek meaning in our lives. Hope there is a purpose to it all. Religion provides additional benefits. 2. Support Health Lifestyles Many religions urge moderation in use of alcohol and drugs. Some prohibit use. Others promote family guidelines. Discourage other risky behavior. Natural helpers: Referral sources. 3. Personality Integration Deeper commitment helps people focus on goals and strivings. Life-long path of discovery. Meditation and prayer help us integrate our personalities. Who we are and what we are about. 4. Increase Generativity Erik Erickson’s Developmental Stages Stage Seven – later adulthood, marked by generativity versus stagnation In this stage generativity refers to the adult's ability to care for another person. Not just your own children but the next generation(s). Not alone on our journey Prayer: “You are close to us as breathing and further than the farthest most star.” Provides moral code of conduct. Most religions have a version of “do unto others as you would have them to unto you.” Foster a sense of self-worth, shared meaning from the community. Conclusions Religion and Science do not have to be in opposition or incompatible Evidence suggests that the deepest origins of religions are based in mystical experience – Religions persist because the wiring of the human brain continues to provide believers with a range of experiences that are interpreted as assurances that God exists Conclusions Much evidence demonstrates that the transcendent states from which religions arise are neurologically real Are these experiences merely the result of neurological function? Or are they genuine experiences which the brain has evolved the ability to perceive and experience a higher plane of being that actually exists? Does our brain wiring CREATE the idea of God, or did God create our brain wiring?