500 psychologists were mailed clinical vignettes and a questionnaire regarding a prospective patient seeking to adopt a child. The vignettes were equivalent except for a paragraph stating the patient's religious beliefs. Analysis showed that neither statements of religiousness nor stability of belief was shown to influence the clinicians' judgements on whether adoption should occur, the probability that they would recommend therapy, or estimate of the patient's adaptive functioning. Psychologists with 13 to 19 years of experience were more likely to recommend therapy than more or less experienced groups, although this finding was not related to religiousness.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
BerginA. E. (1980) Psychotherapy and religious values. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 48, 95–105.
2.
BerginA. E. (1983) Religiosity and mental health: A critical reevaluation and meta-analysis. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 14, 170–184.
3.
GallupG. (1979) Afterword: A coming religious revival? In CarrollJ. W.JohnsonD. W.MartyM. E. (Eds.), Religion in America: 1950 to the present. New York: Harper & Row. Pp. 112–118.
4.
GartnerJ. D. (1986) Antireligious prejudice in admissions to doctoral programs in clinical psychology. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 17, 473–475.
5.
LeubaJ. H. (1934) Religious beliefs of American scientists. Harper's, 169, 291–300.
6.
MartinC.NicholsR. C. (1962) Personality and religious belief. Journal of Social Psychology, 56, 3–8.
7.
RaganC.MalonyH. N.Beit-HallahmiB. (1980) Psychologists and religion: Professional factors and personal belief. Review of Religious Research, 21, 208–217.
