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  • Social Indicators Research

Who Benefits from Religion?

By: Daniel Mochon, Michael I. Norton and Dan Ariely
  • Format:Print
  • | Pages:15
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Abstract

Many studies have documented the benefits of religious involvement. Indeed, highly religious people tend to be healthier, live longer, and have higher levels of subjective well-being. While religious involvement offers clear benefits to many, in this paper we explore whether it may also be detrimental to some. Specifically, we examine in detail the relation between religious involvement and subjective well-being. We first replicate prior findings showing a positive relation between religiosity and subjective well-being. However, our results also suggest that this relation may be more complex than previously thought. While fervent believers benefit from their involvement, those with weaker beliefs are actually less happy than those who do not ascribe to any religion-atheists and agnostics. These results may help explain why-in spite of the well-documented benefits of religion-an increasing number of people are abandoning their faith. As commitment wanes, religious involvement may become detrimental to well-being, and individuals may be better off seeking new affiliations.

Keywords

Religion; Values and Beliefs; Welfare

Citation

Mochon, Daniel, Michael I. Norton, and Dan Ariely. "Who Benefits from Religion?" Social Indicators Research 101, no. 1 (March 2011): 1–15.
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About The Author

Michael I. Norton

Negotiation, Organizations & Markets
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  • The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Actions By: Michael Norton
  • Irrationality in Action: Decision-Making Exercise By: Alison Wood Brooks, Michael I. Norton and Oliver Hauser
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