Social psychological contributions to understanding the role of religion in human relationships

The fields of psychology and theology/religious studies often overlap in their focus. Although one would think that this would make religion a favourite topic for psychological study, the psychology of religion remains a relatively niche field. Nevertheless, research in social psychology and psychology of religion has made significant strides in explaining experiences of and understandings of religion, often utilizing more general psychological theories to understand the ways in which people believe and behave in religious contexts. The authors focus on addressing the role of religion in human relationships, approaching this through the lenses of social cognition and intergroup relations. As with most complex human phenomena, the influence of religion on human relationships is not simple. The authors address the role of religion in terms of its positive impacts on social relationships, as well as the barriers it creates for social relationships and how to overcome those barriers.