Multifaceted religion and its relationship with violent attitudes and behaviors

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2019-05

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Abstract

This study examines the relationship between religion and deviance. Understanding the dynamics of this general connection is important because religion is a dominant component within American society and plays a significant role in the way that people behave in both social and individual contexts. While the sociological community is making strides in the literature on religion and deviance, there is still a plethora questions left unanswered regarding this relationship. This study will contribute to the current body of research that shows religion can have a positive or negative effect on deviant behavior. Specifically, this study will examine the association between three components of religion (religiosity, Christian fundamentalism, and spirituality) and three domains of deviant attitudes and behaviors (approval of violence between men, physical aggression, and jealousy within intimate relationships). Furthermore, this research seeks to show whether religiosity, Christian fundamentalism, and spirituality have a negative or positive effect on violence between men, physical aggression, and jealousy within intimate relationships. Data has been collected via survey (N=600) at a large university in the southwestern United States. The data was analyzed using robust regression analysis. With regard to religiosity, results show a positive association with approval of violence between men and no association with physical aggression or jealousy. With regard to Christian fundamentalism, results show a positive association with jealousy and no association with approval of violence between men or physical aggression. With regard to spirituality, results show a negative association with approval of violence between men and jealousy, and no association with physical aggression.

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Keywords

Sociology, Deviant behavior, Religion

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