Religious orientation and tendency to addiction: comparison between addicted and nonaddicted people

Abstract

Background & objectives

Religion and to be religious plays an important role in social life,values and mental health. Upon Alport & Ross(1967) religion can be divided in two forms: Intrinsic and Extrinsic religious orientation. Internal religious orientated lives with their religion but who is external religious orientated abuse the religion in order to external uses. The intrinsic religious oriented people tend to religion for developing in personality, life, attitude and cognition and like to reach the optimal goal that is cognition of God and this is a factor that makes hopeful and not disappointing from bad event and not reaching to goals. (Homayouni, 2010). So the study investigated differences between Intrinsic-Extrinsic religious orientation in addicted and nonaddicted people.

Method

Participants were 91 addicted and 91 nonaddicted people that were randomly selected and Alport's Religious Orientation Scale(AROS) was administered on them. Independent T test was used to analyze the data.

Results

Findings showed significant differences in religious orientation between two groups specially in Extrinsic religious orientation. Addicted people got more scores in Extrinsic religious orientation than nonaddicted people.

Conclusion

Findings indicated that people with Extrinsic religious orientation have more tendency to addiction. They apply the religious to reach their goals and external ends, such as ways to make friends or increase community social standing and prestige. when they do not reach their goals, they disappointed and get mental illness that may lead to addiction.

Allport, G.W. & Ross, M.J. (1967). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 432–443

Homayouni, A(2010). Psychological aspects of religious orientation and humans abnormal behavior. 18^th European Congress of Psychiatry, 27 February-2 March Munich, Germany