N/A / Unlike what most people believe, Buddhist monasteries rely not only on laymen’s financial support but also on the supports of families and relatives of monks and nuns. In addition, Buddhist renunciation does not always cut off the relationship of a monk or nun with their families. On the contrary, most of monks and nuns in my research remain close contacts with their families and relatives. It is believed that once a person joins the Order, he or she can rely fully on the monasteries’ financial, emotional and medical supports. However, this is not true in all Buddhist monasteries in Taiwan. Mutual dependency between monks or nuns and their families and relatives is the main focus of this research. With lack of supports of different aspects from the monasteries, monks and nuns will have to turn to their families and relatives for helps when needed. Therefore, keeping close and positive relationship with families and relatives is important to some monks and nuns. This research aims at: 1. finding out the kin relationships of monks and nuns; 2. looking at the mutual dependency between monks and nuns and their families or relatives; 3. comparing the ideology and reality of monastic life and Buddhist institution (monasteries). In order to achieve the above goals, I will look at possible causes that might affect the relationship between monks and nuns with their families and relatives. Moreover, although not intended, the reasons of renunciation will be discussed in this paper. Different from Buddhist monasteries in other countries and traditions, Taiwanese monasteries can be privately owned by monks, nuns, or laymen. Because of this fact, and because it determines whether monks and nuns will get necessary supports from the monasteries or not, so types of Buddhist monasteries in Taiwan will be discussed, too.

「社會認同理論」(social identity theory)認為，人們會以所屬團體的身份或屬性來定義自己，是一種對歸屬團體的「團體認同」(group identity)。 所探討的是一個已經隸屬於某個低地位團體的個體，在獲得正向團體認同以維持自尊的動機下，思考使用哪一種提高團體認同的策略。 本研究結合了「計劃行為理論」中有關行為意向的概念，同時也將社會認同理論的應用範圍擴大，由此來了解人們是否會進入一個低地位團體的內在心理歷程，使更能清楚地預測該行為。本研究採情境實驗法，以情境模擬的方式操弄可滲透性、穩定性及能力高低三個獨變項，測量351位受試者對進入低地位團體的態度、主觀規範及知覺對該行為的控制感，再測量行為意向。 結果發現，在可滲透性高及穩定性低兩種狀況下，個體對進入低地位團體的態度較佳，同時知覺對該行為的控制感也較高；穩定性低時，其主觀規範較為正向。而且主觀規範、知覺對行為的控制感可以預測行為意向。 同時，個體在可滲透性高的狀況下會比可滲透性低時要傾向使用個人變動策略，而在穩定性低時會比穩定性高時更會使用社會改變策略。另外，除了實質上的策略之外，個體也會使用心理上的策略來獲得正向的團體認同。本研究也以徑路分析來了解及討論各變項間整體性的關係。