title: Religion, self-regulation, and self-control: Associations, explanations, and implications.
abstract: Many of the links of religiousness with health, well-being, and social behavior may be due to religion's influences on self-control or self-regulation. Using Carver and Scheier's (1998) theory of self-regulation as a framework for organizing the empirical research, the authors review evidence relevant to 6 propositions: (a) that religion can promote self-control; (b) that religion influences how goals are selected, pursued, and organized; (c) that religion facilitates self-monitoring; (d) that religion fosters the development of self-regulatory strength; (e) that religion prescribes and fosters proficiency in a suite of self-regulatory behaviors; and (f) that some of religion's influences on health, well-being, and social behavior may result from religion's influences on self-control and self-regulation. The authors conclude with suggestions for future research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33124-0751, USA. mikem@miami.edu
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: Brian L B
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Willoughby
mesh_terms: D002605:Character; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007206:Individuality; D007389:Internal-External Control; D019122:Meditation; D035863:Moral Development; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012951:Socialization; D029181:Spirituality