Overview
An introduction to the psychology of religion, with emphasis on what research in contemporary cognitive and evolutionary psychology says about human religious belief and behaviour.
Can religious belief and behaviour be explained by science? What do cognitive and evolutionary psychology tell us about belief in god? Is religion universal? Is religion a product of human evolution? How does religious belief develop in childhood? What social functions does religion serve? Combining scholarship on religion and psychology, this paper introduces students to the important interdisciplinary field of psychology of religion. In addition to the above questions, students will learn about the latest research on the psychology of terrorism, the psychology of atheism and the psychological effects of religion on prejudice/tolerance. No background experience in religion or psychology is required.
About this paper
| Paper title | Psychology of Religion (Advanced) |
|---|---|
| Subject | Religious Studies |
| EFTS | 0.15 |
| Points | 18 points |
| Teaching period(s) | Summer School
(Distance learning)
Summer School (On campus) |
| Delivery mode | The Distance Learning offering of this paper is taught and assessed remotely |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,103.10 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Prerequisite
- 18 200-level PSYC or RELS points
- Restriction
- RELS 237
- Schedule C
- Arts and Music, Theology
- Notes
- May not be credited together with RELS231 or RELS331 passed in 2016.
- Eligibility
May not be credited together with RELS237.
- Contact
- More information link
View more information on the Religion website: www.otago.ac.nz/religion
- Teaching staff
Dr Usman Afzali
- Teaching Arrangements
Weekly lectures are presented on campus and telecast simultaneously for Distance students. Lecture recordings will be available afterwards. Tutorials are held in person and via Zoom simultaneously according to the course outline.
- Textbooks
Readings for this paper consist of journal articles and weekly course notes that are provided electronically.
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Cultural understanding, Ethics, Information literacy, Self-motivation.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- Students who successfully complete the paper should be able to
- Understand psychological theories of religion and evaluate research that tests these theories
- Understand the different methods employed in the psychology of religion and their relative strengths and weaknesses
- Evaluate arguments based on empirical data
- Write a clear, persuasive and original commentary about an evidence-based study
- Relate psychological approaches of religion to one another and argue for the merits of one theory relative to another based on evidence
- Articulate the strengths and weaknesses of psychological approaches to religion