Is Christianity specifically incompatible with Ph.D. research in the field of psychology?
In the past, psychology developed as a discipline. Psychology is primarily divided into two areas, experimental and clinical or counseling psychology. Experimental psychology, just like other sciences, can be compared in describing God's creation, although it is often disputed due to the way its data is interpreted. The church has not always agreed with the findings of clinical psychology. However, in the last few years, there has been a progression in combining both psychology and Christian theology. Primarily, Christianity can be compared with a study in the discipline of psychology. Both theology and psychology have the same ground on metaphysics (what we are) as well as in ethics (how we are supposed to be) and concludes with their complex nature ( American Psychological Association, 2019) . They both aim in understanding and improving the various mental and emotional problems that people encounter. In this case, integration can be considered as a difficult task since there are various variations and interpretation in both disciplines. Therefore, I would suggest an approach that considers the similarities between these two disciplines based on biblical fall, redemption, and drama of creation. Additionally, both believe that human beings are innately spiritual and also naturally relational.
Practitioners in psychology usually use the therapeutic connection as a way of curing while Christians, on the other hand, stress on the importance of communism, especially in churches. Furthermore, they both believe we are innately moral, with an understanding of what is right or wrong. Professionals in both disciplines, seek to assist in addressing and healing the wrongdoings in the society. They ascertain there is good globally, -“common grace” about theology. Both are concerned with the importance of love in relationships (Christians stress on loving God first) in psychotherapy processes and its content (Janet 2014). Likewise, the virtues of forgiveness, respect, mercy, commitment, compassion, humility, patience, self-control, honesty, and patience are confirmed in both disciplines. Naturally, the Golden rule, which acts based on treating others as you would like to be treated, is applied by Christians as well as secular counselors. Alcoholics Anonymous, on the other hand, is perfect similarity psychology and theology (Janet 2014). It believes in supernatural power guiding our morals, admitting what is wrong and eventually making amend. Psychology and theology both aim in bringing light into darkness or the unconscious into consciousness, reconciliation, healing, and wholeness. They believe that therapeutic and spiritual growth is a process.
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Theology also teaches the free will people while psychologists understand that the power to decide is fundamental in the counseling session (Pazit, Gizem & Marie, 2015). To add on, both disciplines argue that there is something wrong with humanity, which is evident in their destructive behaviors and mental lives. In this case, Christians would consider this as a sinful act while psychologists would refer to it as illness. They both settle on the root cause of the issue as being relational; disappointments occur in a relationship which leads to depression, low self-esteem, and guilt. According to Christians, sin causes all these problems, whereas psychologists claim it's due to neurochemical disease or poor parenting (Janet 2014). Finally, both disciplines need to integrate and encourage each other. Christians should appreciate psychological research concerning human behavior, while psychologists should acknowledge spirituality and the connection between the mind, body, and soul.
Is the Christian worldview compatible with research ethics in the field of psychology?
Firstly, psychologists usually offer a variety of services to their patients in many different ways, either through counseling, research, or therapy. The services can be offered based on the psychologist's experience, training, and culture. According to the majority of psychologists, they believe the inclusion of one's religious views or faith in their practice leads to incompetency tainting their professionalism, values systems, or ethics in a world which is guided with intellectual truth. However, I believe intellectual and biblical truth can be merged in psychology, thereby creating a structure of morals which is entirely certified and by Christian principles. According to CCCK Online (2016), this system can be achieved through the following methods;
Combining secular Psychology with Christian Ethics
Secular psychology and scientific studies in psychology cannot be assessed from a Christian worldview perspective since the spirituality of an individual cannot influence the behavior like the way environment together with biology identify their being. Even so, in recent years, the discipline of psychology realized that spiritually does influence the behavior of a person, although it does not guarantee a fulfilling life. Conversely, Christian psychologists do not view this as a new thing, although they may still insist that spirituality plus faith are imperative in gaining a desirable life ( American Psychological Association, 2019) . To create a foundation for this argument, Christian psychologists came up with a scripture-based practice, have a centric ground approach towards humanity which encompasses spirituality in the human environment, employs an ethically-sound strategy and acknowledges and appreciate psychological researches.
The Centric Ground Approach of the Human Environment
Religious psychologist operates on a centric ground. According to them, the human environment is designed by its culture, physical environment, social encounter, and biological conditions. Christian psychology is basically on the centric ground, which entails every component of humanity and spiritual as well as taking into account the focus of dignity and ethics.
Use of Ethically-Sound, Secular strategies
Secular strategies arguably have many advantages since they assist in setting a person free from signs related to mental disorders and mental illness ( American Psychological Association, 2019) . They are essential and valid. Secular technique rhymes with Christian world view is very important in dealing with the signs and symptoms of the illness and eliminating such a technique from being practiced is ill stewardship of its practice and profession as a whole.
Appreciating research
Studying psychology has gathered a large quantity of research. Secular research helps a lot in understanding and getting a clear insight into mental disorders illness and cannot be entirely omitted. Through understanding the social features, biological features, and psychological features of human traits helps in treating affected patients the same as spirituality. Hence it is important to detect when secular study and Christianity worldview are not corresponding and decide on which is the best action to undertake.
Lastly, psychologists are in the process of developing and evaluating different spiritual integrated approaches to treatment. These approaches include forgiveness programs; aimed at helping divorced couples in dealing with bitterness and anger management issues. Likewise, the is programs tailored towards sexual abuse survivors to aid them in dealing with spiritual struggles, treatment for women and children with eating disorders which affects their spiritual resources and eventually programs that will help drug users by allowing them to re-connect with their higher selves (Pazit, Gizem & Marie, 2015). All of these programs are in their early stages, and the preliminary results are positive. Psychologists who are unfamiliar with what is required in this field are encouraged to ask their patients questions about religion and spirituality since most of them are open to talk about these issues. Through sharing their views regarding religion and spirituality, psychologists create a better platform for deeper conversation.
To what extent the Christian worldview should influence the type of psychology research conducted and the ethics of that research?
Psychologists have been including and analyzing some new topics such as meditation, love, forgiveness, gratitude, acceptance, and hope. All of these phenomena originated from Eastern and Western religious traditions. Therefore, researchers have been careful and cautious in treating the processes as secular. "It's not mandatory to be religious to meditate" has been a slogan in this literature. Experiment on this aspect of life has provided important psychological and also deeper social insights, with strong hindrance for human change and development. In this context, research has concluded that mantra meditation that is connected to a spiritual point is far much better in healing physical pain rather than meditation connected to a secular phase. It is however, evident that religion, together with spirituality, cannot be decreased or determined by neither social nor psychological processes. Religion and spirituality can be considered special since they have a focus on subjects of ultimate truth, deep connection, finitude, and transcendence. Thereby, any psychology that fails to notice these parts of life is not complete.
There is no neutral point when comparing religion and spirituality. This rule applies to theists, agnostics, and atheists also including psychologists and their patients. Since religion and spirituality connect to the deeper feelings of an individual because they are interconnected with their deepest values, psychologists should be very cautious in approaching these processes. Psychologists can achieve this by being sensitive, caring and knowledgeable. Sadly, a majority of psychologists do not receive any training in spirituality or religion in their graduate and postgraduate education (Kenneth, 2013). This has to change since having the required knowledge on religion and spiritual diversity and comprehending how they are interconnected with human behavior helps in dealing with religious and spiritual concerns that may arise during treatment. Practically, competent care brings about self-awareness.
Nevertheless, whether psychologists are religious or spiritual or share the same belief about religion or spiritual orientation with their patients, they have to be aware of how their belief may impact their client, knowingly or unknowingly. Consequently, Psychologists should also give their clients the freedom to make decisions and protect their autonomy (Kenneth, 2013). Having open discussions with patients about values that are related to treatment is one of the best methods to ensure there is ethical practice. Lastly, it is important for psychologists to consult experts from different religious and spiritual background to have a better perspective as well as wisdom in dealing with controversial ethical issues that may arise in the field while addressing practices related to religion and spirituality.
To what extent do you perceive that the Christian worldview will influence the topic and ethics of intended research (migration and social identity) research?
According to social identity theory, people derive self-identification within a communal group and subsequently participate in conflict with other social groups while aiming to maintain the optimistic status of the group ( American Psychological Association, 2019) . Studies have shown that in-group identification results to one becoming protective towards the group’s culture and any threat towards symbolic resources of the group may lead to prejudice aimed at out-groups (Pazit, Gizem & Marie, 2015). Indeed, any threat towards social identity is intolerable and anti-immigration sentiments to be precise. Religion plays a vital role in social identity and acquired at the first stages of one’s lifetime and reinforced throughout. Religion encompasses some parts of security and stability within a social group, powerful social cooperation by establishing boundaries (Norenzayan 2014). Deriving social identity from religion often increases exclusionary attitudes towards immigrants. Since religion is also intertwined with ethnic background, both ethnic and religious groups usually favor anti-immigration sentiments towards different religious or ethnic groups.
On the other hand, the social identity of religiosity has been proved to increase the desire of one to distance him or herself from immigrants and push for anti-immigration laws, especially to immigrants with different characteristics. Religious beliefs that push for compassion and caring increases the chances of social acceptance of immigrants by supporting pro-immigration laws. Similarly, Immigrants objecting the religion and ethnicity of the host society, usually have a firm stand on anti-migration policies compared to immigrants who have a difference in one dimension stated. This shows that religious identity has the power to influence issues directed towards another social group and their ethnic background. This conclusions, therefore, requires further research. The interaction between immigrant groups and religiosity suggests that various components of religious experience tend to lead to other considerations in another place and time. This is in line with the idea that religion is dynamic and flexible, which also accounts for the disparity in religious beliefs between communities and individuals concerning various political positions over time. In this context, certain elements activate the desired religious experiences or destroy intolerance.
Politicians who seek to establish support for their policies might use other perspectives of their religious beliefs over other religions or even highlight either differences or similarities from the host group (Pazit, Gizem & Marie, 2015). For instance, politicians who seek support from the liberal constituencies could highlight the need for mercy and care and compare the state of immigrants to the community that hosts them. Considering the nature of belief as a basis for social identification, and the reality that religious belief is mostly interlinked with ethnic background, we expect ethnic and religious group to be on the frontline in guiding anti-migration sentiments against immigrants from another ethnic and religious community inflicting fear and threats thereby suffering from exclusion to a much greater context. Finally, a social identification hypothesis argues that some of the unethical religious, social behavior leads to increased opposition to immigration to a point where immigrants are looked upon as a different group from the host community.
References
Janet Warren, (2014), PSYCHOLOGY AND CHRISTIANITY: FRIENDS OR FOES? Retrieved from https://www.csca.ca/2014/03/25/psychology-christianity/
CCCK Online (2016), Christian Ethics in Psychology Retrieved from https://myonline.centralchristian.edu/news/2016/11/10/christian-ethics-psychology
American Psychological Association (2019) , Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/03/religion-spirituality
Pazit Ben-nun Bloom, Gizem Arikan, Marie Courtemanche, (2015), Religious Social Identity, Religious Belief, and Anti-Immigration Sentiment.
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