Abstract
This study expanded on traditional concepts of spirituality through an analysis of narratives derived from images with spiritual content. Twenty-five participants were selected based on their being actively involved in spiritual practices. They were requested to tell TAT-type stories to a series of twelve images that revolved around spiritual themes. The resulting 300 stories were coded according to Grounded Theory procedures. A theory of spirituality emerged that centered upon the expression of suffering and the expectation of it being relieved. Results suggest that the personal spiritual process is one that expects and seeks transformation of the suffering through a connection with another, a connection with the transcendent, acquiring wisdom, or transforming the internal state.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
To view thumbnail versions of the images contact the principal author at elisantonieta@yahoo.com.
References
Barnhart, R. K. (1995). The Barnhart concise dictionary of etymology: The origins of American English words. New York: HarperCollins.
Bibby, R. W. (2004). Restless gods: The renaissance of religion in Canada. Ottawa: Novalis Press.
Campbell, J. (1959). The masks of god: Primitive mythology. New York: Penguin Books.
Chamberlain, T. J., & Hall, C. A. (2000). Realized religion: Research on the relationship between religion and health. Philadelphia, PA: Templeton Foundation.
Corbett, L. (1996). The religious function of the psyche. London: Routeldge.
Cramer, P. (1996). Storytelling, narrative, and the Thematic Apperception Test. New York City: Guilford Press.
Edinger, E. F. (1972). Ego and archetype. New York: C. G. Jung Foundation for Analytical Psychology.
Egnew, T. R. (2005). The meaning of healing: Transcending suffering. Annals of Family Medicine, 1(3), 255–262.
Ehrman, B. D. (2008). God’s problem: How the Bible fails to answer our most important question—why we suffer. New York: Harper One, HarperCollins.
Ellis, M. R. (2002). Challenges posed by a scientific approach to spiritual issues. Journal of Family Practice, 51(3), 259–260.
Fontana, D. (2003). Psychology, religion, and spirituality. Malden, MA: Blackwell Publishing.
Gilbert, P. (1989). Human nature and suffering. East Sussex, UK: Lawrence Erlbaum Publishers.
Gonçalvez, O. F., & Machado, P. P. P. (1999). Cognitive narrative psychotherapy: Research foundations. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55, 1179–1191.
Hardy, A. (1979). The spiritual nature of man: A study of contemporary religious experience. Oxford: The Religious Experience Research Center.
Hill, P. C., & Hood, R. W. (1999). Measures of religiosity. Birmingham, AL: Religious Education Press.
Hill, P. C., & Pargament, K. I. (2003). Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of religion and spirituality: Implications for physical and mental health research. American Psychologist, 58(1), 64–74.
Hill, P. C., Pargament, K. I., Wood, R. W., Jr., McCullough, M. E., & Swyers, J. P. (2000). Conceptualizing religion and spirituality: Points of commonality, points of departure. Journal of Theory of Social Behavior, 30, 51–77.
Hilsenroth, M. J. (2004). Projective assessment of personality and psychopathology: An overview. In: M. J. Hilsenroth, & D. L. Segal (Eds.) (volume eds.), M. Jersen (ed. in chief), Comprehensive handbook of psychological assessment: Volume II, Personality assessment (pp. 283–342). New Jersey, NJ: Wiley.
Hodge, D. R. (2003). Spiritual assessment: A handbook for helping professionals. Botsford, CT: North American Association of Christians in Social Work.
Jones, C. (1986). The study of spirituality. New York: Oxford University Press.
Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of religion and health. London: Oxford University Press.
Marty, M. E. (1998). Revising the map of American religion. In C. R. Wade (Ed.), Americans, religions in the twenty-first century (pp. 13–27). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
McDonald, M. (1999, May 3). Shush. The guy in the cubicle is meditating. US News and World Report, p. 1.
Miller, G. (2003). Incorporating spirituality in counseling and psychotherapy: Theory and practice. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley.
Otto, R. (1958). The idea of the Holy. New York: Oxford University Press.
Paloutzian, R. (Ed.). (2005). Handbook of the psychology of religion and spirituality. New York: The Guilford Press.
Pargament, K. I. (1997). The psychology of religion and coping: Theory, research, practice. New York: The Guilford Press.
Pargament, K. I. (1999). The psychology of religion and spirituality? Yes and no. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 9, 3–16.
Pargament, K. I., Smith, B. W., Koenig, H. G., & Perez, L. (1998). Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37, 710–724.
Pennebaker, J. W., & Segal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243–1254.
Plante, T. G., & Sherman, A. C. (Eds.). (2001). Faith and health: Psychological perspectives. New York: The Guilford Press.
Richards, P. S., & Bergin, A. E. (1997). A spiritual strategy for counseling and psychotherapy. Washington: American Psychological Association.
Rohr, R. (2005). Don’t miss the second half. National Catholic Reporter, 38, 9.
Russell, R. L., & Wandrei, M. L. (1996). Narrative and the process of psychotherapy: Theoretical foundations and empirical support. In H. Rosen & H. Kuehlwein (Eds.), Constructing realities (pp. 307–336). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Schneiders, S. M. (1989). Spirituality in the academy. Theological Studies, 50, 676–697.
Smith, H. (1991). The world’s religions: Our great wisdom traditions. San Francisco: HarperCollins.
Smith, H. (2001). Why religion matters: The fate of the human spirit in an age of disbelief. San Francisco: HarperCollins.
Spilka, B., Hood, R. W., Jr., Hunsberger, B., & Gorsuch, R. (2003). The psychology of religion: An empirical approach (3rd ed.). New York: The Guilford Press.
Tillich, P. (1948). The shaking of the foundations. New York: Scribner Library.
Tillich, P. (1963). The eternal now. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
Tillich, P. (2003). Systematic theology. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Tillich, P. (2005). The new being. University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln. Volume 10, Number 2.
Wilber, K. (2000). Integral psychology: Consciousness, spirit, psychology, therapy. Boston: Shambhala.
Wilber, K. (2004). The simple feeling of being: Embracing your true nature. Boston: Shambhala.
Worthington, E. L., Kurusu, T. A., McCullough, M. E., & Sandage, S. J. (1996). Empirical research on religion and therapeutic processes and outcomes: A 10-year review and research prospectus. Psychological Bulletin, 119, 448–487.
Zinnbauer, B. J., Pargament, K. I., & Scott, A. B. (1999). The emerging meanings of religiousness and spirituality: Problems and prospects. Journal of Personality, 67(6), 889–919.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gottheil, E.A., Groth-Marnat, G. A Grounded Theory Study of Spirituality: Using Personal Narratives Suggested by Spiritual Images. J Relig Health 50, 452–463 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9366-3
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-010-9366-3