MA Psychology of Religion

What does the programme cover?

The programme approaches religion from the standpoint of psychology, without making any assumptions about particular religious truths and values, and asks what psychology can offer to our understanding of people’s religious beliefs, values, and behaviour. It explores the relationships between religious belief and behaviour, and between religion, mental health and well-being generally, and the importance of social, contextual and cultural factors in religious development. 

The programme is comprised of four required modules and a 12-15000 word dissertation on a subject of your choice, approved by your supervisor. 

The four modules are 'Psychology of Religion', 'Psychological Perspectives on Religious Development', 'The Scientific Study of Religion' and  'Mental Health, Religion and Culture'. 

“Psychology of Religion” focuses on the historical foundations of the field and on the major theoretical approaches to the understanding and explanation of religious belief and practice (e.g.,Freudian, Jungian, humanistic, phenomenological, behaviourist and biological approaches).

“Psychological Perspectives on Religious Development” considers the evolution of religious stances and practices in the course of the life cycle and how this has been impacted by psychological approaches to human development (e.g., in
childhood,adolescence, adulthood and old age). It also considers how theological approaches may enrich our understanding of religious development.

In the “Scientific Study of Religion” module you become acquainted with basic aspects of the research conducted in the field (e.g., on conversion, mystical experience, the effects of religion on well-being). The various kind of methodologies (empirical and humanistic) applied in this research and the findings that it produces are critically examined and their potential value to the understanding of the individual person explored.

Finally, in “Mental Health, Religion and Culture” you have the opportunity to learn about the impact of the cultural context on religious beliefs and behaviour and the implications of this for considering a range of issues regarding mental health and illness.