Religiosity as Self-Enhancement: A Meta-Analysis of the Relation Between Socially Desirable

In a meta-analysis, the authors test the theoretical formulation that religiosity is a means for self-enhancement. The authors operationalized self-enhancement as socially desirable responding (SDR) and focused on three facets of religiosity: intrinsic, extrinsic, and religion-as-quest. Importantly, they assessed two moderators of the relation between SDR and religiosity. Macro-level culture reflected countries that varied in degree of religiosity (from high to low: United States, Canada, United Kingdom). Micro-level culture reflected U.S. universities high (Christian) versus low (secular) on religiosity. The results were generally consistent with the theoretical formulation. Both macro-level and micro-level culture moderated the relation between SDR and religiosity: This relation was more positive in samples that placed higher value on religiosity (United States> Canada> United Kingdom; Christian universities> secular universities). The evidence suggests that religiosity is partly in the service of self-enhancement. Keywords religiosity, self-enhancement, socially desirable responding, intrinsic religiosity, extrinsic religiosity People are motivated to see themselves favorably along cul-turally valued characteristics. Stated otherwise, people are motivated to self-enhance. This motive lies at the heart of many social psychological theories, such as cognitive dis-sonance theory, terror management theory, self-affirmation theory, social identity theory, the self-enhancement tactician model, and the self-evaluation maintenance mode