The Psychology of Religious Representations - Development and Implications for Psychotherapy

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The Psychology of Religious Representations - Development and Implications for Psychotherapy

Journal Title: Journal of Experiential Psychotherapy - Year 2016, Vol 19, Issue 4

Abstract

Introduction: Thanks to a wider opening of psychology to the religious domain, mental health specialists need to be aware of their clients’ spiritual orientation and religious background. Unfortunately, there are not many resources that facilitate the understanding of the psychological mechanism that form the spiritual dimension of life, but there is an increased interest for religious aspects in psychology. Regarding the therapeutic process, it is important to look at the ontogenetic experience of religiosity and spirituality as generators of meanings in understanding and assimilating the religious representations of God. Moreover, we need to understand the distinction between the image of God and the concept of God, the way in which they are developed through the life span and assimilated in terms of morals, values, and why and how they condition the perceptions of clients. Understanding the process of how representations are developed and structured and the psychology behind them, the therapist can intervene in the religious dimension of his clients, trying to make them conscious about the environmental factors which conditioned the forming of representations. Thus, the therapist and the client can construct a healthy representation based on the exploration of the client's primordial experiences. Objectives: This paper aims to show how religious representations develop and how they can be used in therapy in the process of working with religious clients. Also, it aims to raise awareness on some spiritual issues starting with the need for understanding how religious representations develop. This is a primordial aspect of the therapeutic work because all the clients' perceptions about the world around them are developed under their notion and representation of God. Methods: Literature investigation. Conclusions: The understanding of how religious representations are formed is a key point in the therapeutic work. Since an insecure pattern of attachment may form a negative representation of God, the therapist will have the opportunity to work with the clients on investigating their past and their attachment to caregivers. At the same time, operating a distinction between the concept of God and the image of God gives a better understanding of how these concepts are loaded with meaning based on primordial social interactions.

Authors and Affiliations

Alexandru Filip Popovici

Keywords

EP ID EP245823
DOI -
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