Researchers Involved: Peter Kline
Summary:
The aim of this project is to offer a critical engagement with the use of attachment theory in psychology of religion research from a metapsychological perspective. The research area is the relation between attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory as it pertains to the psychic dimensions of God representations.
Specifically, my project will develop a theoretical framework within which attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory are constructively combined in order to account for aspects of the psychological origin and function of God representations.
This projected is needed for the following reasons: 1) it will address certain limitations internal to both attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory and how these limitations limit the interpretive scope of psychology of religion, and 2) it will extend recent re-thinking of the relationship between attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory into the psychology of religion.
This project contributes to the theme of “how humans conceive and think of divine realities” by addressing the metapsychological dimensions of God representations.
The project activities will include extensive literature review of the following areas: attachment theory and psychology of religion; attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory; metapsychological theory; the thought of Jean Laplanche. I will offer my own constructive analysis and synthesis of these various literatures.
The planned outputs include a peer-reviewed journal article based on my constructive engagement with the literatures cited above, a conference presentation at the University of Divinity research day conference in 2024, as well as a blog post summarizing my research.
The anticipated outcomes of this project include an expanded theoretical frame within the academic conversation on psychology, religion, and theology. Within the discourse of psychology of religion, this framework will allow researchers to integrate the insights of attachment theory and psychoanalytic theory in order to arrive at a more comprehensive and adequate interpretation of the psychological dimension of religion. Within the discourse of theology, this framework will offer researchers a psychological account of those aspects of religion, spirituality, and theology that exceed the representational domain.
Join our innovative exploration at the nexus of psychology and theology. Our project aims to enrich theological research with the latest psychological insights, offering a unique opportunity for scholars to deepen their understanding of human nature and ethics.
