An attachment theory perspective on religion and spirituality

Attachment theory emphasizes the importance to human beings of socio-emotional bonds with available, sensitive, and supportive others for effective emotion regulation, mental health, and psychosocial functioning. Originally, the theory focused on the quality of the infant–parent relationship, but it was extended to friendships and romantic relationships in adulthood and to a person’s relationship with God. In this chapter, we focus on an attachment theory perspective on religion and spirituality and argue that attachment theory and research provide a useful framework for studying and understanding the development of religious beliefs and a believer’s relationship to God. We open with a brief outline of attachment theory and research. We then review research showing that a believer’s perceived relationship with God meets the defining criteria for attachment bonds and hence that God can serve as a protective and supportive attachment figure. The chapter also considers evidence for the correspondence model that suggests that attachment to God mirrors peoples’ other attachment bonds, as well as evidence for the motivated compensation model that suggests that attachment to God may be used to substitute for insecure attachment bonds. Finally, we review research on connections between particular religious phenomena and attachment-related individual differences in the “earthly” realm of interpersonal relationships.