Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the
Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories

J 2024

Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories

LANG, Martin and Radim CHVAJA

Basic information

Original name

Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories

Authors

LANG, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution) and Radim CHVAJA (203 Czech Republic)

Edition

Collabra: Psychology, Oakland, University of California Press, 2024, 2474-7394

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Article in a journal

Field of Study

60304 Religious studies

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

is not subject to a state or trade secret

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 3.200

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14210/24:00138053

Organization unit

Faculty of Arts

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.126508

UT WoS

001379322900001

EID Scopus

2-s2.0-85213052815

Keywords in English

existential security; rationalization; secularization

Abstract

In the original language

The study tests two competing explanations of the secularization process related to rationalizing worldviews and decreasing existential insecurity. While the former explanation argues that people are unwilling to join religious groups because of increasing mechanistic understanding of the world that clashes with religious views (and is rather irreversible), the latter argues that it is the decreasing insecurity that causes secularization and that this trend can be reversed with increasing insecurity. In the present study, 811 secular participants from the USA and Poland played a modified version of the Nash demand game, which simulates dilemmas indexing cooperative insecurity. Participants were randomly assigned to either a secure or insecure environment, manipulated by the parameters of the Nash demand game, and we assessed whether they would be willing to join costly normative groups that regulate cooperation in the game. Crucially, participants were randomly assigned either to a secular condition (choosing between a secular normative group and a group with no norms)—our manipulation check—or a religious condition (choosing between a normative group with religious framing and a group without norms)—main test between the two theories. The results showed that participants in the secular condition were more likely to choose the normative group in the insecure compared to the secure environment, but this difference was inconclusive in the religious condition. However, when re-assigning participants from insecure to secure environments and vice versa, we found strong support for the existential insecurity theory. We discuss potential explanations for the discrepancy between stated and actual behavior as well as potential motivations for joining religious normative groups. This submission has been positively recommended by PCI RR (links to Stage 1 and Stage 2 recommendations).

Links

QUB_2022, interní kód MU

Name: Existential security, secular institutions, and group norms: Explaining the rise of non-theism

Investor: Ostatní - foreign, Existential security, secular institutions, and group norms: Explaining the rise of non-theism

Cite

LANG, Martin and Radim CHVAJA. Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories. Collabra: Psychology. Oakland: University of California Press, 2024, vol. 10, No 1, p. 1-17. ISSN 2474-7394. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.126508.

@article{2461119,
   author = {Lang, Martin and Chvaja, Radim},
   article_location = {Oakland},
   article_number = {1},
   doi = {https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.126508},
   keywords = {existential security; rationalization; secularization},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {2474-7394},
   journal = {Collabra: Psychology},
   title = {Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories},
   url = {https://online.ucpress.edu/collabra/article/10/1/126508/204054/Mechanisms-of-Secularization-Testing-Between-the},
   volume = {10},
   year = {2024}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 2461119
AU  - Lang, Martin - Chvaja, Radim
PY  - 2024
TI  - Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories
JF  - Collabra: Psychology
VL  - 10
IS  - 1
SP  - 1-17
EP  - 1-17
PB  - University of California Press
SN  - 24747394
KW  - existential security
KW  - rationalization
KW  - secularization
UR  - https://online.ucpress.edu/collabra/article/10/1/126508/204054/Mechanisms-of-Secularization-Testing-Between-the
N2  - The study tests two competing explanations of the secularization process related to rationalizing worldviews and decreasing existential insecurity. While the former explanation argues that people are unwilling to join religious groups because of increasing mechanistic understanding of the world that clashes with religious views (and is rather irreversible), the latter argues that it is the decreasing insecurity that causes secularization and that this trend can be reversed with increasing insecurity. In the present study, 811 secular participants from the USA and Poland played a modified version of the Nash demand game, which simulates dilemmas indexing cooperative insecurity. Participants were randomly assigned to either a secure or insecure environment, manipulated by the parameters of the Nash demand game, and we assessed whether they would be willing to join costly normative groups that regulate cooperation in the game. Crucially, participants were randomly assigned either to a secular condition (choosing between a secular normative group and a group with no norms)—our manipulation check—or a religious condition (choosing between a normative group with religious framing and a group without norms)—main test between the two theories. The results showed that participants in the secular condition were more likely to choose the normative group in the insecure compared to the secure environment, but this difference was inconclusive in the religious condition. However, when re-assigning participants from insecure to secure environments and vice versa, we found strong support for the existential insecurity theory. We discuss potential explanations for the discrepancy between stated and actual behavior as well as potential motivations for joining religious normative groups. This submission has been positively recommended by PCI RR (links to Stage 1 and Stage 2 recommendations).
ER  -

LANG, Martin and Radim CHVAJA. Mechanisms of Secularization : Testing Between the Rationalization and Existential Insecurity Theories. \textit{Collabra: Psychology}. Oakland: University of California Press, 2024, vol.~10, No~1, p.~1-17. ISSN~2474-7394. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1525/collabra.126508.

Přehled o publikaci