Between Belief and Grief: The Psychology of Theodicy - Jahdiel Perez

Summary:

My research project aims to explore the relationship between theodicy and psychological resilience. Theodicy is a theological and philosophical practice that attempts to show how belief that God is all-powerful and all-good can be consistent with lived experiences of suffering. Psychological resilience refers to the ability of an individual to adapt or recover from distressful experiences or traumatic life events. Of the various cognitive, emotional, and behavioural processes that help individuals maintain psychological well-being through adversity, this research will focus primarily on the role that meaning making plays in that resilience. My aim is to determine whether and to what degree the meaning that theodicies purport to make of suffering can contribute to psychological resilience. The overarching question that will guide my research is: Do the representations of God as benevolent and omnipotent that theodicy affirms help or hurt an individual’s psychological resilience?

This project is needed because it helps to bridge the disciplinary gap between psychology and theology, while contributing to research on God-representation, both of which are central themes of the Psychology Cross-training Fellowship Program. This research joins the insights of both disciplines by bringing the resources of psychological science to bear on a widespread theological concept and discursive practice. It can help demonstrate the unique value that science-engaged approaches can offer contemporary theologians. This research can also have a broader and more practical impact on religious leaders and laypeople by informing pastoral care practices to people who are suffering.

The activities of this project will include (1) a selective literature review of theodicy; (2) a literature review of psychological research of resilience and meaning making; (3) a synthesis of both literature reviews; (4) drafting and editing a publishable article of the findings and argument; (5) presenting insights from this research at scholarly events; and (6) submitting a revised final draft for publication.

There are three primary outputs of this research project. The first is a manuscript of the research findings and argument, which will be submitted for peer-reviewed publication in an academic journal. The second output includes presentations at select academic conferences and events. The third output is a lay-friendly and practitioner-friendly summary of this research project, which can be used to inform pastoral care for grieving individuals.

An anticipated outcome of these outputs is helping to raise scholarly awareness of science-engaged theology as a valuable approach for contemporary theologians, which aligns closely with the mission of the Psychology Cross-training Fellowship Program. The aim is to show how a more complete and concrete understanding of how human beings represent God, especially through moments of suffering, is possible by interdisciplinary research across psychology and theology. Another anticipated outcome of this research is to help shift the conversation about the value of theodicy among theologians and pastoral care practitioners.