An intrinsic religious orientation and beliefs relating to grace tended to predict an Internal State of Awareness, Style Consciousness, and less depression. These outcomes supported the hypothesis that orthodox conceptualizations of sin can promote an adaptive sensitivity to the self and to the self in relation to others; although in some samples these effects may be accompanied by the liability of less assertiveness. Obtained data also demonstrated that an interrelatedness between beliefs dealing with grace and with guilt can create complexities in understanding the influences of sin on self-functioning.
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