Dependence nurturance and monotheism: a cross-cultural study

The Journal of Social Psychology • Vol/Iss. 84(2) • Routledge • • Published In • Pages: 175-181 •
By Terry, Roger L.

Abstract

The main premise of the present study is to investigate the relationship between monotheism and dependence nurturance during early childhood and adulthood. Terry notes the human need to explain and understand the world, and theorizes that this understanding derives from personal experience, learned information, and supernatural explanation. Terry tests the hypothesis that supernatural explanations (monothestic beliefs) will be formulated if individuals cannot depend on their own experiences and/or others to reduce uncertainty (a result of independence training).

Samples

Sample Used Coded Data Comment
Ethnographic ReportsMurdock, 1962; Whiting and Child, 1953; D'Andrade, 1961

Hypotheses (2)

HypothesisSupported
Monotheism and dependence nurturance during childhood will be inversely related on a societal level. "Societies in which independence is stressed during childhood were hypothesized to evidence monotheistic beliefs, while societies in which dependence is nurtured were expected not to evidence monotheism (p.176)."Supported
Monotheism and distance between married sons and their parents will be directly related on a societal level. "Societies that prescribe that married sons live close to their parents were hypothesized not to evidence monotheism, whereas societies that prescribe that married sons live far from their parents were hypothesized to be monothestic (p.176)."Not Supported
Documents and Hypotheses Filed By: emily.pitek