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Psychological Aspects of the Role of Religion in Identity Construction

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Abstract

Religious plurality can generate fears through identity destabilization. Religions offer ressources for coping with fears. On one side, production of stereotypes follows a defensive way. On the other side, claim to be universal help to cross boundaries and to cope with stigmatization, misrecognition and discrimination. Coping strategies combine at least five aspects: community, intimate relationship, rules, construction of identity, and worlview. This article shows how these aspects are intertwined.

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Correspondence to Pierre-Yves Brandt.

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Brandt, PY. Psychological Aspects of the Role of Religion in Identity Construction. Integr. psych. behav. 47, 299–303 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-013-9237-z

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