Religiosity as self-enhancement: a meta-analysis of the relation between socially desirable responding and religiosity.
In a meta-analysis, the authors test the theoretical formulation that religiosity is a means for self-enhancement. The authors operationalized self-enhancement as socially desirable responding (SDR) and focused on three facets of religiosity: intrinsic, extrinsic, and religion-as-quest. Importantly, they assessed two moderators of the relation between SDR and religiosity. Macro-level culture reflected countries that varied in degree of religiosity (from high to low: United States, Canada, United Kingdom). Micro-level culture reflected U.S. universities high (Christian) versus low (secular) on religiosity. The results were generally consistent with the theoretical formulation. Both macro-level and micro-level culture moderated the relation between SDR and religiosity: This relation was more positive in samples that placed higher value on religiosity (United States > Canada > United Kingdom; Christian universities > secular universities). The evidence suggests that religiosity is partly in the service of self-enhancement.
Sedikides
Constantine
C
University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. cs2@soton.ac.uk
Gebauer
Jochen E
JE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002170:Canada; D002835:Christianity; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012069:Religion and Psychology; D012649:Self Concept; D012928:Social Desirability; D012945:Social Values; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult