<p> The compensatory control model has been suggested as one way of understanding the complex relationship between the experience of God and the experience of control. This model states that when one's sense of control is threatened, it can be compensated for by increased beliefs in external systems of control (such as a supreme being, or the government) that are thought to provide one with a general sense that the world is in order. Previous research has produced evidence for the compensatory control model, but has failed to consider a conceptual distinction between the personal experience of God (God Image) and the conceptual understanding of God (God Concept). A sample of 135 participants whose demographics closely resemble the population of academia took a brief internet survey measuring a dimension of God Image, and general sense of control. Statistical analysis of the correlation produced a coefficient of r = .13 that was not statistically significant. Contradicting the study hypothesis, the findings suggest that general sense of control was not related to how much one experiences God as present in his or her life. Implications for the fields of sociology, theology, and psychology are discussed.</p><p> <i>Keywords</i>: God image, God concept, control, compensatory control, religiosity</p>
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:PROQUEST/oai:pqdtoai.proquest.com:10168831 |
| Date | 08 October 2016 |
| Creators | Urban, Lukasz |
| Publisher | Adler School of Professional Psychology |
| Source Sets | ProQuest.com |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | thesis |
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