Intrinsic Religious Orientation: ethnic differences within a lay sample

Abstract

This article examines the demographic antecedents and psychological correlate, alienation, of Intrinsic Religious Orientation (IRO) in lay sample in the USA. Our data show that IRO differs significantly across ethnicity, religious affiliation and gender. In addition, IRO is positively correlated with alienation. We conclude that IRO, a type of religious commitment that emphasises belief in God, serves as a form of psychological refuge from the tensions of society and provides a means of coping with demand.