Intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity as related to conscience, adjustment, and altruism

Abstract

Two separate samples (Hawaii and Missouri) of male and female university students responded to a measure of intrinsic and of extrinsic religiosity as well as to measures of sensitivity of conscience (guilt and shame), personality (Eysenck Personality Questionnaire), and of altruism (giving help, receiving help, rated importance of helping). While the two dimensions of religiosity tended to be positively correlated with one another, responses were not substantially associated with lie scale (social conformity) scores and were differentially associated with other measures. Intrinsic religiosity was positively correlated with guilt , insignificantly correlated with shame, negatively correlated with neuroticism, and positively correlated with altruism (especially for males). Extrinsic religiosity was negatively correlated with guilt, positively correlated with shame and with neuroticism, and uncorrelated or negatively correlated with measures of altruism. In general, the results support the belief that the distinction between dimensions of religiosity is real and of social relevance.