The Role of Place for Human Flourishing: A Critical Engagement between Theology and Psychology - Alison Walker

Summary:

The aim of this project is to offer a critical engagement with psychology and theology to describe and explain human bonds to place and the impact on human well-being. The research area concerns Christian theologies of place and psychological research on place in environmental psychology, psychology of religion, and social psychology.  

Specifically, my project will develop an expanded theoretical framework using an established psychological three-dimensional model of place attachment and current Christian theologies of place. This will facilitate a thick description of how bonds to place and their accompanying social relationships inform human flourishing, as well as the role of the church to facilitate such bonds both inside and outside the church. The project will also attend to critiques from theologians concerning antisocial behaviour attributed to territorial bonds to place in church communities. I will investigate the possibilities of other areas of social psychology, such as collective psychological ownership, to describe and explain such exclusionary behaviour. By addressing these specific research questions, the project contributes to the wider theme of “the role of religion in human flourishing in social relationships” 

The project is needed to demonstrate the critical importance of meaningful bonds to place for human well-being, a factor which has not been readily addressed in social psychology, and with only limited engagement in psychology of religion and Christian theology. Moreover, the project is needed to equip churches to facilitate bonds to place in ways that do not exclude or marginalise.  

The project activities will include an extensive literature review of the following areas: place attachment in environmental psychology; place spirituality in psychology of religion; collective psychological ownership; Christian theologies of place. 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 analysis, a conference presentation, and 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 concerning the role of place for human flourishing. Within the discourse of psychology this theoretical work will further demonstrate to psychologists of religion and social psychologists the need to more readily attend to the role of the physical environment in social psychological processes. Within the discourse of theology, my project will demonstrate the need for theological engagement with place beyond the distinct discipline of Christian theology of place, generating constructive work in other areas such as Christian doctrine, ethics, and practical theology. Moreover, my project will equip the church to promote human flourishing in local communities through facilitating healthy bonds to local places.