Difference between revisions of "Change in personality traits due to religious conversion"
Conservative (Talk | contribs) (→Specific changes in the Big Five personality by individual traits) |
Conservative (Talk | contribs) (→Specific changes in the Big Five personality by individual traits) |
||
| Line 32: | Line 32: | ||
"Studies suggest that people who undergo a sincere religious conversion often report increases in prosocial qualities like [[forgiveness]], [[empathy]], compassion, and [[Collaboration|cooperation]] — core aspects of agreeableness. This is partly because many religions strongly emphasize [[love]] of neighbor, [[humility]], and [[Morality|moral]] concern for others. On average, a religious conversion may lead to a small-to-moderate increase in agreeableness, usually less than 0.3–0.5 standard deviations. The effect is strongest when the new faith emphasizes [[compassion]], humility, and social harmony."<ref>[https://chatgpt.com/share/68a5e83f-9828-800a-b4ee-1aa8fa2b6abb How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of agreeableness?]</ref> See also: [[Intellectual humility]] and [[Works (theology)]] | "Studies suggest that people who undergo a sincere religious conversion often report increases in prosocial qualities like [[forgiveness]], [[empathy]], compassion, and [[Collaboration|cooperation]] — core aspects of agreeableness. This is partly because many religions strongly emphasize [[love]] of neighbor, [[humility]], and [[Morality|moral]] concern for others. On average, a religious conversion may lead to a small-to-moderate increase in agreeableness, usually less than 0.3–0.5 standard deviations. The effect is strongest when the new faith emphasizes [[compassion]], humility, and social harmony."<ref>[https://chatgpt.com/share/68a5e83f-9828-800a-b4ee-1aa8fa2b6abb How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of agreeableness?]</ref> See also: [[Intellectual humility]] and [[Works (theology)]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | In his article ''The Triumph of the Gospel of Love'', Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo) wrote: | ||
| + | {{cquote|It is generally agreed by scholars and saints that the teaching of "love" and charity represent one of the essential dimensions of the Gospel of [[Jesus]] and the Gospel of [[Saint Paul|Paul]]. Accordingly, from the extant words and parables of Jesus many concern themselves with the message of love. For example on the Sunday of Meat Fare, from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus identifying Himself and in solidarity with the destitute, the suffering, the rejected and the oppressed, calling for and rewarding altruistic philanthropy: | ||
| + | |||
| + | "... I was hungry and you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, when I was a stranger you took me in, when naked you clothed me, when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me ... I tell you this anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did it for me." (Matt 25:35-36, 40)... | ||
| + | |||
| + | Christians undertook a great deal of almsgiving to the poor not only to fellow believers but to pagans as well. So amazed was the anti-Christian pagan emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363 AD), with the sheer benevolence and excellence of Christian philanthropy that he was forced to admit in wonder their superiority over paganism in matters of charity: | ||
| + | |||
| + | :"These godless Galileans (ie. Christians) feed not only their own poor but ours: our poor lack our care" (Ep. Sozom. 5:16).<ref>[http://www.orthodoxchristian.info/pages/Gospel.htm ''The Triumph of the Gospel of Love''] by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)</ref>}} | ||
| + | |||
"For neuroticism specifically, conversions associated with strong community support, purpose, and coping resources may lower it by around 0.3–0.6 SDs (a moderate but meaningful change)".<ref>[https://chatgpt.com/share/68a5e30f-5bd4-800a-84c3-8b856dc57fb2 How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of neuroticism?"</ref> | "For neuroticism specifically, conversions associated with strong community support, purpose, and coping resources may lower it by around 0.3–0.6 SDs (a moderate but meaningful change)".<ref>[https://chatgpt.com/share/68a5e30f-5bd4-800a-84c3-8b856dc57fb2 How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of neuroticism?"</ref> | ||
Revision as of 16:40, August 20, 2025
The Big Five personality traits change due to a person becoming more mature, efforts to change the personality traits or a major life change (See: Neuroplasticity and the ability of individuals to change their personality).
Contents
Personality changes due to religious conversion
Personality changes due to religious conversion
| “ | Religious conversion is one of the life events most strongly associated with personality change, because it often reshapes someone’s identity, daily habits, values, and social world. But the magnitude of change is usually not unlimited—it tends to be moderate rather than extreme, and uneven across the Big Five traits.
Average change: Studies suggest that religious conversion or increased religiosity is associated with about 0.3 to 0.7 standard deviations of change in certain traits over time. Maximum documented change: In rare, profound cases (e.g., dramatic “born-again” conversions or entry into highly structured religious orders), people can shift by 1+ standard deviation on some traits, but that’s exceptional.[1] |
” |
There is a significant amount of historical and scientific evidence that Bible reading has greatly increased human flourishing such as people's physical health, psychological well-being, character and virtue, and social connections (See: Bible reading and human flourishing).
Big Five personality traits
- Conscientiousness - Self-control/Self-discipline/willpower, efficiency/productivity, orderliness/organizational skills and dependable. Conscientiousness is positively correlated to a desire to perform a task well. See: Self-efficacy and Skill and Work ethic
- Extraversion - Assertive, energetic, and personable. See: Interpersonal skills and Interpersonal relations and Social intelligence and Conversational skills and Communication skills and Affability and Friendship and Social networking and Conflict resolution
- Agreeableness - Understanding and cooperativeness. See: Empathy and Collaboration
- Neuroticism - Anxiety/fear, vulnerability, and sensitivity. See also: Courage and Confidence and Mindset and Growth mindset and Optimism and Mental toughness and Psychological resilience and Comfort zone
- Openness - Creativity, imagination, imitativeness, intellectual curiosity and innovation [2][3]
Specific changes in the Big Five personality by individual traits
"Personality research suggests that traits can shift about 0.25–0.75 standard deviations across major life events (marriage, parenthood, career changes, etc.). A deep, transformative conversion could move conscientiousness upward by roughly half a standard deviation, which is a meaningful but not radical change."[4]
"In traditions emphasizing evangelism, testimony, or public worship (e.g., Pentecostalism, evangelical Christianity, some forms of Buddhism), converts may increase in extraverted behaviors because participation requires speaking, sharing experiences, and being socially active. Research evidence: Longitudinal studies on personality change suggest that religious conversion can lead to small but measurable increases in extraversion, especially when the community aspect of the religion is strong. However, the typical shift is modest—on the order of about 0.2 to 0.3 standard deviations, not a dramatic personality overhaul. Indirect effects: Conversions that boost self-confidence, reduce social anxiety, or encourage more communal participation can functionally raise extraverted behaviors even if the person’s core trait level doesn’t shift hugely."[5]
"Studies suggest that people who undergo a sincere religious conversion often report increases in prosocial qualities like forgiveness, empathy, compassion, and cooperation — core aspects of agreeableness. This is partly because many religions strongly emphasize love of neighbor, humility, and moral concern for others. On average, a religious conversion may lead to a small-to-moderate increase in agreeableness, usually less than 0.3–0.5 standard deviations. The effect is strongest when the new faith emphasizes compassion, humility, and social harmony."[6] See also: Intellectual humility and Works (theology)
In his article The Triumph of the Gospel of Love, Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo) wrote:
| “ | It is generally agreed by scholars and saints that the teaching of "love" and charity represent one of the essential dimensions of the Gospel of Jesus and the Gospel of Paul. Accordingly, from the extant words and parables of Jesus many concern themselves with the message of love. For example on the Sunday of Meat Fare, from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear Jesus identifying Himself and in solidarity with the destitute, the suffering, the rejected and the oppressed, calling for and rewarding altruistic philanthropy:
"... I was hungry and you fed me, when I was thirsty you gave me drink, when I was a stranger you took me in, when naked you clothed me, when I was ill you came to my help, when in prison you visited me ... I tell you this anything you did for one of my brothers here, however humble, you did it for me." (Matt 25:35-36, 40)... Christians undertook a great deal of almsgiving to the poor not only to fellow believers but to pagans as well. So amazed was the anti-Christian pagan emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363 AD), with the sheer benevolence and excellence of Christian philanthropy that he was forced to admit in wonder their superiority over paganism in matters of charity:
|
” |
"For neuroticism specifically, conversions associated with strong community support, purpose, and coping resources may lower it by around 0.3–0.6 SDs (a moderate but meaningful change)".[8]
Personality trait of openness and the Holy Spirit
See also: Sanctification and Argument from beauty
Personality trait of openness and the Holy Spirit:
Does the Holy Spirit increase the personality trait of openness?
"In psychology, openness to experience (in the Big Five model) refers to traits like imagination, curiosity, receptiveness to new ideas, and appreciation for art and novelty. The Holy Spirit, in Christian theology, is understood as God’s active presence transforming believers’ character and perception.
"Theological view: Many Christians would say the Holy Spirit opens a person’s heart and mind—removing spiritual blindness, increasing receptivity to God’s guidance, and making people more willing to embrace new callings or perspectives. This sounds similar to psychological openness, though directed toward spiritual realities rather than novelty in general.
Psychological research: Studies of religious conversion and spirituality show that experiences people interpret as encounters with the Holy Spirit can shift personality traits, but the effect is not uniform. Some find themselves more curious, tolerant, and imaginative (higher openness), while others may become more structured and focused (sometimes reducing openness). The change depends on the person’s background, tradition, and how they integrate their spiritual experience."[10]
References
- ↑ How big of personality changes are possible via religious conversion?
- ↑ https://www.verywell.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422
- ↑ https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/big-five-personality-traits
- ↑ How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of conscientiousness?
- ↑ How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of extraversion?
- ↑ How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of agreeableness?
- ↑ The Triumph of the Gospel of Love by Monk Themistocles (Adamopoulo)
- ↑ [https://chatgpt.com/share/68a5e30f-5bd4-800a-84c3-8b856dc57fb2 How much does a religious conversion affect the personality trait of neuroticism?"
- ↑ Why Is the Dove Often a Symbol for the Holy Spirit?, Christianity.com
- ↑ Does the Holy Spirit increase the personality trait of openness?
