Attachment, Evolution, and the Psychology of Religion

Why has religion played such a strong role in all human cultures throughout history? Despite the remarkable diversity of forms of religious belief, why have certain common themes consistently emerged? And why do people in modern societies vary widely in whether and what they believe, and how they act on their faith? In this compelling book, Lee Kirkpatrick addresses these essential questions and more, establishing a comprehensive framework for approaching the psychology of religion from an evolutionary perspective. Within this framework, attachment theory provides a powerful lens through which to reconceptualize many aspects of religious belief and behavior. Provocative and engaging, the book brings fresh ideas to bear on universal concerns and outlines a bold agenda for future research. Rejecting the notion that humans possess religion-specific instincts or adaptations, Kirkpatrick argues that religion instead is a collection of byproducts of numerous psychological mechanisms and systems that evolved for other functions. Among these systems is attachment, which has been the subject of growing scientific interest over the last decade. Systematically applying attachment theory to religion, chapters identify key parallels between early attachment relationships and adult romantic relationships, on the one hand, and individuals' perceived relationships with God, on the other. Seeing the deity as an attachment figure offers new ways of thinking about such core religious phenomena as images of God, prayer, religious development, and conversion. Along with attachment, the book considers how a variety of other evolved psychological mechanisms/m-/including intrasexual competition for status and mates, kinship, social exchange, and coalitional psychology/m-/underlie other aspects of religious belief and behavior. Also provided are promising evolutionary hypotheses for phenomena outside the margins of mainstream religion, such as parapsychological beliefs. Written in a lucid, straightforward style, this integrative work will spark discussion, debate, and further investigation among readers in social and personality psychology and the psychology of religion, as well as clinical psychology and religious studies. It will serve as a text in advanced undergraduate- and graduate-level courses in the psychology of religion, evolutionary psychology, attachment theory, and personality.

Lee A. Kirkpatrick, PhD, is Associate Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in Psychology at the College of William and Mary in Virginia. He has published numerous research articles and book chapters on topics related to adult attachment, the psychology of religion, and evolutionary psychology.