Religion and the Problem-Solving Process: Three Styles of Coping

TLDR

Three styles of problem‑solving—Collaborative, Deferring, and Self‑Directing—were proposed, each reflecting a distinct relationship between the individual and God. The study aims to elucidate the diverse roles that religion plays in the problem‑solving process. The authors developed scales to assess the three styles and administered them to 197 church members. Factor analysis confirmed the three distinct styles, which differed in their associations with religiousness and competence: Collaborative was linked to internalized committed religion and higher competence, Deferring to external religion and lower competence, and Self‑Directing to active coping, lower traditional religious involvement, and generally effective functioning.

Abstract

Three styles of problem-solving were proposed, each involving a different reported relationship between the individual and God. Scales were developed to measure these problem-solving styles and were administered to 197 church members. These three styles were clearly identifiable through factor analysis. Further, as predicted, the three styles of problem-solving related differently to measures of religiousness and competence. The report of a problem-solving style involving active personal exchange with God (Collaborative) appears to be part of an internalized committed form of religion, one holding positive implications for the competence of the individual. A problem-solving style in which the individual waits for solutions from God (Deferring) seems to be part of an externally-oriented religion providing answers to questions the individual is less able to resolve. This style was associated with lower levels of competence. A Self-Directing style emphasizes the freedom God gives people to direct their own lives. This approach appears to be an active coping orientation which stresses personal agency, involves lower levels of traditional religious involvement, and is part of a generally effective style of functioning. This study points to the important diverse roles religion plays in the problem-solving process.