TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2010//
TI  - Why Religion’s Burdens Are Light: From Religiosity to Implicit Self-Regulation
JO  - Personality and social psychology review
A1  - Koole, Sander L.
A1  - McCullough, Michael E.
A1  - Kuhl, Julius
A1  - Roelofsma, Peter H. M. P.
SP  - 95
EP  - 107
VL  - 14
IS  - 1
N2  - To maintain religious standards, individuals must frequently endure aversive or forsake pleasurable experiences. Yet religious individuals on average display higher levels of emotional well-being compared to nonreligious individuals. The present article seeks to resolve this paradox by suggesting that many forms of religion may facilitate a self-regulatory mode that is flexible, efficient, and largely unconscious. In this implicit mode of self-regulation, religious individuals may be able to strive for high standards and simultaneously maintain high emotional well-being. A review of the empirical literature confirmed that religious stimuli and practices foster implicit self-regulation, particularly among individuals who fully internalized their religion’s standards. The present work suggests that some seemingly irrational aspects of religion may have important psychological benefits by promoting implicit self-regulation.<p />
LA  - 
SN  - 1088-8683
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1088868309351109
ID  - ref1
ER  -