Belief in a Loving Versus Punitive God and Behavior. (17th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shepperd, James A.; Pogge, Gabrielle; Lipsey, Nikolette P.; Miller, Wendi A.; Webster, Gregory D.
• Other Names: Hardy Sam A. guestEditor.; King Pamela Ebstyne guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of research on adolescence. Volume 29:Number 2(2019)
• Page Start: 390
• Page End: 401
• Publication Date: 2019-06-17
• Subjects: Adolescence -- Periodicals; 155.5
• DOI: 10.1111/jora.12437
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-8392

Abstract

Abstract : We examined the extent to which beliefs in a loving God and punitive God correspond with self‐reported behavior in an online, longitudinal survey involving three waves of data collection, each separated by 6 months. Adolescents ( N = 760) reported the extent to which they believed in a loving God and a punitive God (Times 1 and 3) and reported their engagement in benevolent (helping and forgiveness) and aggressive behavior (Times 2 and 3). Participants strongly endorsed a loving God but not a punitive God. In addition, belief in a loving God corresponded with reports of less aggressive and more benevolent behavior, whereas belief in a punitive God corresponded with more aggressive and less benevolent behavior.