Pastoral Psychology Research Articles

Discerning a Theological Orientation for Pastoral Psychologies of Care: Theologies of Subjugation and Theologies of Vulnerability

This article addresses the psychologies of care associated with theologies of subjugation/subordination and theologies of vulnerability. It is argued that a pastoral psychology of care necessarily emerges in relation to and is dependent on theologies of vulnerability. These theologies, in other words, provide the reasons, beliefs, motivations, and values associated with caring dispositions and actions. I contend further that one finds support for these theologies in the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. By contrast, theologies of subjugation, evident and pervasive in Judeo-Christian scriptures, foster psychologies that undermine care for Others.

Revisiting Living in Limbo to Illustrate a Pastoral Psychological Understanding of Transition from Military to Civilian Life

The transition from military to civilian life includes a multitude of challenges for service members and their significant others. This transfer from one context to another can include, but is not limited to, a need for an identity shift, cultivation of an alternate mind-set, social reorientation, a search for employment, grief and sadness due to the loss of camaraderie, and/or experiences of alienation and estrangement from civilian society. Although the social sciences dominate this research field and dub it ‘transition,’ the ambiguity of the process can be further advanced through pastoral psychology. This article rethinks and reinterprets qualitative data to develop a pastoral psychological understanding of veterans through Capps and Carlin’s lens of living in limbo. This pastoral psychological construct embraces the ambiguity of the transition to civilian life and addresses it as a potentially complex and acute limbo situation. This construct can resonate with both veterans and significant others while also assisting pastors in providing care and counseling.

Dignity as Wisdom at the End of Life: Sacrifice as Value Emerging from a Qualitative Analysis of Generativity Documents

End of life and palliative care are viewed in chaplaincy as an important time when spiritual support is considered highly beneficial. Dignity therapy is an important care strategy in this field. This article lends support to the Chochinov protocol using Schwartz’s matrix of values. Five dignity therapy “generativity documents” prepared for terminally ill patients using interpretative phenomenological analysis were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. The results showed the role of values in the construction of wisdom and confirmed the importance of family relationships. The value of sacrifice, which is supported by various religious traditions, emerged as a perceived factor, indicating personal wisdom. The most significant result is the discovery of sacrifice as a positive value. Since hedonism, another of the values of Schwartz’s matrix, is quite common in contemporary culture, it is important that those applying dignity therapy pay sufficient attention to the value of sacrifice, understanding that it could be recognized as a characteristic component of wisdom by those who are terminally ill. The implications, not only for end of life counseling but also for other fields and disciplines focusing on spiritual care, in particular for pastoral psychology, are significant.

A Logotherapeutic Approach to Pastoral Counseling Education for Catholic Seminarians

Viktor Frankl, MD, PhD is one of the most widely known and highly respected professors of psychiatry and neurology of the twentieth century. In this article, we adapt and apply some of his profound insights for Catholic pastoral counseling education. Pastoral counseling is a very important aspect of the general pastoral formation of Catholic seminarians. The goal of any pastoral counseling course should be twofold. First, it should give seminarians a basic knowledge of mental illnesses to understand their parishioners better. Second, it should offer them concrete techniques to be used in the context of pastoral counseling. Seminary classes in pastoral psychology and counseling sometimes lack a consistent, coherent theoretical foundation, or may attempt to teach techniques inappropriate for use by future parish priests. This paper presents a logotherapeutic approach for the formation of seminarians in pastoral counseling. This approach is congruent with the pastoral sphere as the focus is on meaning and the life of the spirit.

Digital history of psychology takes flight.

The articles authored by Flis and van Eck (2018) and by Burman (2018) serve as fine examples of the ways in which digital historical methods can illuminate aspects of psychology's past that would probably not be possible otherwise. This success, however, presents no reason to think that digital history is some kind of threat to conventional historiography or that former aims to replace the latter. The two can work complementarily-so closely, in fact, that it sometimes becomes difficult to know which of the two one is practicing at any given moment. Multiple skill sets need not define the historian as being a particular "kind": They just enable any historian to do his or her work more completely than before. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Shadowboxing with Integrity

In 1979, Pastoral Psychology published the author’s first autobiographical case study: the story of a near-fatal automobile accident, collateral damage of a high-speed police chase in downtown Chicago. Five other articles have relied on this type of narrative history, focusing directly on the threatened author as a subject for analysis. Such non-risk-free projects could be a fitting requirement for a DMin thesis in pastoral counseling. The author provides practical writing suggestions as a modus operandi. Theologically, the hub of these accounts often reveal evidence of Providence. The clustering of coincidences is an initial clue of high probability. For 40 years, the author has effectively used this type of research or detection to better understand events such as a homicide, a burglary, a flatline, the Ku Klux Klan, and the death of my best friend. The current piece collectively draws on several years of pastoral care for a homeless veteran, a personal injury lawsuit, and an encounter with the Devil.

Responses to Presentations at the American Academy of Religion Annual Meeting Forum on the Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion

This article is a response to essay reviews of the Oxford Handbook of Religious Conversion (Rambo and Farhadian 2014) published in this issue of Pastoral Psychology. The editors of that volume seek to engage the various issues raised by the reviewers.

Reflections on community psychology's past and future: What if a stitch in time only saves six?

AbstractThis paper expands comments made upon receipt of the Distinguished Contributions to Theory and Research in Community Psychology, August 2015. Examination of the discipline's originating intent is reviewed as a foundation for considering its potential for distinguishing it from other social and behavioral sciences.

A Study of Parental Roles for Coping with Childhood Depression: From a Perspective of Pastoral Psychology

이 논문의 목적은 우울증의 상태를 효과적으로 치유하기 위한 방법을 고찰하는 것이다. 좀 더 세부적으로 표현하면, 이 글은 부모가 어린이들의 우울증을 효과적으로 회복할 수 있도록 하는 역할들에 대하여 목회심리학적 측면에서 탐구한다. 우울증은 어린이들에게 정신적으로나 감성적으로 깊은 영향을 주고 있다. 우울증의 주요 증상들은 상실감, 비관적 생각, 무기력감, 무가치함, 불안감, 정신지체, 전반적인 활동도의 감소(psychomotor retardation), 식욕장애(식욕저하, 혹은 폭식과 체중증가), 수면장애, 죄책감, 그리고 자살 충동 등으로 나타난다. 우울증의 상태가 깊어지면, 삶의 전반적인 측면들(예, 신체적, 감정적, 정신적, 행동적, 관계적, 그리고 영적인 측면들) 속에서 문제들이 발생하게 된다. 우울증의 상태에 있는 어린이들은 일상적이고 건전한 삶의 상황에 적응을 하지 못하고 움추려들고 소외되는 경향이 있다. 이와 같이, 어린이들이 삶의 아픔과 절망 속에서 우울증을 경험할 때에, 부모는 자녀들이 삶의 의미를 회복할 수 있도록 도와야 하고, 자녀들이 새로운 희망을 품을 수 있도록 도와야 하며, 그리고 자녀들이 가족의 구성원들과 이웃들과의 관계를 형성할 수 있도록 도와야 한다. 우울증 자체는 삶에 의미가 없고, 또한 삶이 무가치하다는 것을 가리키지 않는다. 오히려, 우울증은 삶을 새로운 방향으로 재형성하도록 하게 하는 기회가 될 수 있다. 우울증의 상태에서 건전한 변화가 일어난다는 것은 미래에 대한 희망과 가능성을 열망하고 추구한다는 것을 의미한다. 이 논문은 우울증의 기본 개념과 전반적인 우울증의 상태를 이해하는데 도움을 주고 있다. 특히, 이 글은 급격한 삶의 변화로 인하여 나타나는 어린 시절의 우울증의 증상들을 이해하는 데 도움을 주고 있다. 나아가 이 글은 우울증의 상태에 있는 어린이들에 부모가 ‘충분히 좋은’ (good enough) 격려와 관심을 가져야만 함을 역설하고 있다. 이 논문은 부모가 인형극들(puppet plays)을 사용하여 어린이들의 이야기들을 효과적으로 들을 수 있도록 안내하고 있고, 부모가 성경의 이야기들(Bible stories)을 활용하여 어려운 삶의 상황 속에서도 어린이들과 함께 하나님의 사랑과 계획을 깨달아 알 수 있도록 하고 있으며, 나아가 부모가 다양한 놀이들(plays)과 활동들을 통하여 어린이들과 함께 새로운 미래를 계획해 나가도록 돕고 있다.

From "The Depleted Self" to "The Will to Believe": Excavating the Hermeneutics of Donald Capps.

The concept of "reframing" lies at the heart of the pastoral psychology of Donald Capps. In previous articles I have argued that the process of reframing follows a circular hermeneutics. An excavation of Capps' hermeneutics reveals foundations in the fields of philosophy and psychology. This article focuses on the legacy of Johann Gottfried von Herder, Friedrich Schleiermacher, William James and Paul Ricoeur. It explores the differences and commonalities between William James and Friedrich Schleiermacher's understanding of religious experience as well as Paul Ricoeur's understanding of narrativity and traces these strains to Capps' pastoral psychology. As illustration of his pastoral approach to healing and wholeness the problem of "the depleted self," so prevalent in "our narcissistic age," encounters the healing narrative of Jesus that appeals to "the will to believe."

'Go in peace – and die!' The task of the church in the HIV and/or AIDS context

The purpose of this study was to investigate how the white Afrikaans-speaking churches in the Reformed tradition are dealing with the health and well-being of its parishioners in the HIV and/or AIDS context. An electronic questionnaire was filled in by 142 clergy from various Afrikaans-speaking churches. Results showed that clergy (90%) believed that HIV and/or AIDS is a much bigger problem outside the Afrikaans-speaking church than inside the church. Although 66% agreed that HIV was also a problem in white Afrikaans-speaking churches, only 30% admitted that it was a problem in their own congregation. Most (70%) believed that HIV and/or AIDS can be ignored in their own congregations. A small number of clergy took it on themselves to provide HIV and/or AIDS counselling (21%), care (19%) and education (18%) with minimum support from church leaders. When it came to HIV and/or AIDS prevention, most clergy were only prepared to preach abstinence and faithfulness, with their main message that ‘our bodies are the temple of God and that it should not be violated’ (70%). Is it not time for clergy to confront reality and to protect their flock by also teaching them prevention skills?Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The article is relevant to the fields of pastoral care, psychology and HIV and/or AIDS.

Historical impact in psychology differs between demographic groups

Abstract Psychology has a long tradition of creating lists of the most eminent members of the discipline. Such lists are typically created under the assumption that there is a general answer to the question of eminence, covering all psychologists everywhere. We wondered, however, to what degree perceived eminence depends on the individual's particular demographic situation. Specifically, are different historical figures “eminent” to people of different genders, ages, and geographical locations? We tested this by asking a wide swath of people – mostly psychologists – who they think has had the most impact on the discipline of psychology, historically. We used an online game in which “players” were shown a series of pairs of significant figures from psychology's past and asked to select which had had the greater impact. We then converted these selections into a ranked list using the Elo rating system. Although our overall rankings had considerable similarity with traditional efforts, we also found that rankings differed markedly among different demographic groups, undermining the assumption of a general measure of eminence that is valid for all.

Exploring Cultural Psychology: Introduction to a Book Forum on Towards Cultural Psychology of Religion: Principles, Approaches, Applications by Jacob A. Belzen

This article introduces a book forum on Jacob A. Belzen’s book Towards Cultural Psychology of Religion: Principles, Approaches, Applications. The introduction discusses the relatively recent “turn to culture” and how it has affected the field of psychology of religion and the variety of concerns examined by the journal Pastoral Psychology.

Psychosynthesis: A Foundational Bridge Between Psychology and Spirituality

Pastoral psychologists have long tried to establish a working model that encompasses the seemingly conflicting disciplines of science and religion. Psychosynthesis, a transpersonal psychology and therapeutic approach, offers such a model of the human personality, in which the psychological and spiritual perspectives can converge. This article explores psychosynthesis psychology and therapy as a theoretical framework for pastoral psychology. Although psychosynthesis psychotherapy relies on an array of techniques, it fundamentally works with the clients’ will while emphasizing, exploring, and cultivating their relationships on all levels—intrapersonal, interpersonal, and with the Higher Self. In addition to the subconscious, psychosynthesis includes a higher psychological plane, called the superconscious, from which our higher ethical, aesthetic, scientific, and spiritual values are derived. This article begins by introducing psychosynthesis concepts and techniques. It then provides qualitative findings showing that psychosynthesis counseling helped to awaken spirituality in three out of eleven clients who had formerly identified themselves as atheists. In addition, testimonies are included that show that psychosynthesis counseling also helped all eleven clients to attain personal growth. Finally, the counselor describes her experience of psychosynthesis as a Christian in the therapeutic setting. The framework of psychosynthesis psychology and its techniques are viable methodologies for anyone searching to incorporate spiritual growth into a psychological working model.

Meandry interdyscyplinarności teologii pastoralnej. Przyczynek do dyskusji

The debates related to the understanding of pastoral theology are being held continuously. The Second Vatican Council has exceptionally contributed to this development, since its pastoral character led to offering prospects for setting new goals and for designing new style and methods of research. Therefore it is worth triggering off a reflection on the method of applying pastoral theology. It is of specific character, since it draws from two sources – both theological and non-theological. The authors of this article have been inspired by the document issued by the International Theological Commission Theology today: Perspectives, Principles and Criteria (2012), which emphasizes the fact that the practical theology has greatly profited from being combined with sociology, psychology and pedagogy (No. 81). Therefore, they decided to attempt to specify the relationship between pastoral theology and these sciences. They ask whether pastoral psychology, pedagogy and sociology are sub-disciplines of pastoral theology, sub-fields of non-theological sciences or whether they are interdisciplinary sciences of theoretical and practical character, whose achievements are exploited in the process of creating theological models of the pastoral activity, comprising also the paths for it. Carrying out such considerations, the authors remind the essence and goals of pastoral theology, they stress its nature, which is both prescriptive and practical, presenting at the same time its methods. Furthermore, they discuss the specifics of practicing interdisciplinary pastoral theology, concentrating on the non-theological fields. Finally, they propose some theological suggestions, stipulating explicitly that they are not of the conclusive character and they are just supposed to initiate a substantive discussion aiming at formulating new solutions.

Psychological correlates of inner emptiness: a case study

Professor Zenomena Pluzek has been acknowledged as one of the pioneers and leading scholars in Poland in both the psychology of religion and pastoral psychology. Referring to her research in the area of psychological and psychospiritual crises, this article addresses the issue of the emptiness experienced during psychotherapy as a “dark night”. The case of one particular patient/client will be analyzed from both psychological and religious (theological) perspectives, with the aim of answering the following questions: What do such “dark nights” look like in a clinical context? How should (or can) they be conceptualized in clinical terms? How ought they to be dealt with?

The Varieties of Religious Responses to Homosexuality: A Content and Tonal Analysis of Articles in Pastoral Psychology from 1950 to 2015 Regarding Sexual Minorities

Psychology has a complex history with lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. Substantial shifts in stance, rhetoric, and research over the decades have influenced the greater societal view of LGBT people. While a noticeable cultural shift is occurring in America toward acceptance of LGBT people, some continue to argue that same-sex relationships are not healthy. Evangelical Christians, those who hold a high respect for the authority of the Bible and support nearly literal readings of its teachings, generally support such a position (Sullivan-Blum 2009). There is strain among evangelicals regarding what it means to live faithfully and to engage LGBT people, which becomes increasingly complex as evangelicals who identify as sexual minorities speak up and share their stories. Historically, a delayed time trend can be seen in responses to homosexuality among evangelical Christians. A content and tonal analysis was conducted of 53 peer-reviewed articles found in Pastoral Psychology, which were categorized as non-affirming, neutral/exploratory, or affirming. This analysis revealed a notable trend over the last 65 years toward more open and inclusive dialogue surrounding LGBT people, even when more traditional stances were being held. Tracing the views toward homosexuality in psychology and society allows for a more complex understanding of the current tensions among American evangelical Christians.

'I am who I am': Deconstructing orphaned boys' references to God: An application of the post-foundational notion of practical theology

This article investigates and reflects on the religious and spiritual aspects inherent in the narratives of adolescent male orphans, affected by HIV and AIDS, poverty and fatherlessness, and more specifically on aspects which tell us about how these boys understand and experience the presence of God within their specific situations. In coming to such an understanding, this article focuses specifically on the various names attributed to God by the coresearchers and investigates the prominence through social construction behind these names and how it influences the coresearchers� experience of God amidst their unique circumstances. With the use of the perspectives of a post-foundational notion of practical theology and narrative therapy and research, these names and their accompanied significance are deconstructed. The aim of the deconstruction process is to unveil dominant discourses that both inform the use of specific references to God and assist the coresearchers in finding meaning in the use of these names. The larger study employed research methods from the qualitative and case study research design, and included interdisciplinary work based on the post-foundational notion of transversality. Disciplines included in the dialogue were pastoral therapy, critical psychology and social work. This article�s reflections can be useful in all the above-mentioned disciplines and gives insight into understanding the significance behind the phenomenon of naming a deity in one�s personal and public language, and the influence such spiritual affirmations have in the psychosocial sphere of the holistic persona.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: The larger study (from which this article originates) is an interdisciplinary study, as to conform to the principles of a postfoundational notion of practical theology and as such supports the assumptions underlying this theoretical framework.Keywords: Names for God; Postfoundationalism; Practical Theology; Co-Researchers; HIV and Aids; Poverty; Father Absence

Aiming Toward a Political Pastoral Theology

I am writing this introduction the day after of hearing the sad news that Don Capps died. Don made numerous contributions to Pastoral Psychology, and he was a friend, mentor, and colleague of Lewis Rambo, Nathan Carlin, and myself. While his death is a terrible loss, I think we take solace in having known a man who was a compassionate and profoundly creative scholar who was also interested in his colleagues and students—their lives and their work. But what does all of this grief have to do with this current issue? Some years ago, after reading one of my articles, Don wrote and told me of his interest in Malcolm X. Apparently they were born in the same city, but Don’s interest had more to do with the courage Malcolm X displayed standing up to white racists. Whatever Don’s intention was in telling me this, I took this as his blessing on the work I was doing in the area of politics, economics, and pastoral theology. I hasten to add to this memory that one of Don’s doctoral students, Lewis Rambo, became editor of Pastoral Psychology and, like Don, Lewis actively supports the work of others. Indeed, in the last 15 years, Lewis has enthusiastically encouraged my work, and I am deeply grateful for that and our email conversations. More particularly, it was Lewis’s idea to publish these articles as part of a special issue. When he asked me if I would be open to that (who would not?), I was gratified and humbled. Most of us toil away in solitude as we write, wondering if anyone reads our articles and books. It is a great boon to have someone of Don’s and Lewis’s stature recognize and encourage my work. I also deeply appreciate Nathan Carlin’s introduction. Nathan reminds me of Don, both in terms of his generosity, humility, and compassion as well as his prodigious productivity. Every time I turn around he is publishing another book or article. A final word: my interest in critically engaging political and economic systems and structures is fueled by urgency and hope that teeters on the brink of despair. When I was growing up, there was a collective anxiety about the possibility of nuclear war and the annihilation of the human species. To some degree this threat has receded, only to be replaced by the ever-growing reality of global warming and its dire consequences not only for humans but for other species. Both threats reveal the power of human creativity and industry as well as Pastoral Psychol (2016) 65:3–4 DOI 10.1007/s11089-015-0679-8

Living Stories of Resilience, Resistance, and Resourcefulness

The articles in this special issue of the journal were presented as working papers at two conferences of the Group for New Directions in Pastoral Theology at Princeton Theological Seminary on May 7–9 and October 1–3, 2014. Papers from previous conferences have been published as articles in Pastoral Psychology in the December 2010, June 2011, August 2012, October 2013, and December 2014 issues. We are deeply indebted to Lewis Rambo, editor of Pastoral Psychology, for enabling us to publish the articles as a group. As in previous years, these two conferences had a common theme: BLiving Stories of Resilience, Resistance, and Resourcefulness.^ This theme, which emerged from the closing discussions at the previous year’s conferences in which participants were invited to propose the next year’s theme, was chosen because pastoral theology, as a discipline, has focused over the years on the personal and collective experiences of individuals, families, friendship and support groups, local communities, congregations, and other religious groups; in addition, it has given particular attention to the racial, ethnic, gender, sexual orientation, economic, and health-related issues and concerns that these entities experience on an ongoing basis. As a group dedicated to the recognition and development of Bnew directions^ in pastoral theology, we hoped to develop ideas and strategies for addressing these issues and concerns in new and helpful ways. The theme’s emphasis on Bliving stories^ reflects the insight that came into prominence several decades ago that pastoral theology tends to be story-oriented. Whether the focus of attention is an individual, family, friendship or support group, local community, congregation, or other religious group or organization, pastoral theological studies have typically employed stories to illustrate and explore the concerns and issues being addressed. This story-orientation has its basis in the traditional emphasis of the discipline on the case study, which has been, and continues to be, a prominent feature of chaplaincy and pastoral counseling. However, the story-orientation allows for addressing the racial, ethnic, gender, Pastoral Psychol (2015) 64:549–551 DOI 10.1007/s11089-015-0667-z