Wholeness and Holiness: The Spiritual Dimension of Eudaimonics

Pargäment, Kenneth I.; Wong, Serena; Exline, Julie J.

doi:10.1007/978-3-319-42445-3_25

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 69 publications

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“…We offer another perspective: wholeness. Wholeness shifts our focus away from the search for one key to the life well-lived (Pargament et al, 2016;Russo-Netzer, 2017b). It embraces the need to wrestle with life in its multifaceted complexity and organize it into a unified whole.…”

Section: Wholeness Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wholeness is a dimension of well-being that goes beyond any single spiritual attribute, character strength, or virtue. Instead, it speaks to people in their entirety (Pargament et al, 2016;Russo-Netzer, 2017b). It is also multilayered and dynamic and can manifest itself in diverse ways.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is also multilayered and dynamic and can manifest itself in diverse ways. Wholeness has three defining features ( Pargament et al, 2016 , in press ). First, it involves the capacity to see and approach life with breadth and depth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Decoding of the Human Spirit: A Synergy of Spirituality and Character Strengths Toward Wholeness

2020

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Little attention has been given to the integral relationship between character strengths and spirituality (the search for or communing with the sacred to derive meaning and purpose). The science of character strengths has surged in recent years with hundreds of studies, yet with minimal attention to spirituality or the literature thereof. At the same time, the science of spirituality has steadily unfolded over the last few decades and has offered only occasional attention to select strengths of character (e.g., humility, love, and forgiveness) or the universal typology of the VIA classification of character strengths and virtues. In this exploration, we argue that there is a robust synergy of these sciences and practices revealing that spirituality is vitally concerned with promoting character strengths. At the same time, character strengths can enhance and deepen spiritual practices, rituals, and experiences. We elaborate on how character strengths and spirituality come together in the context of the psycho-spiritual journey toward wholeness. By wholeness, we are referring to a way of being in the world that involves a life-affirming view of oneself and the world, a capacity to see and approach life with breadth and depth and the ability to organize the life journey into a cohesive whole. We further discuss six levels by which spirituality can be integrated within the VIA Classification, including a meta-perspective in which wholeness represents a meta-strength or superordinate virtue. We frame two pathways of integration: the grounding path, in which character strengths offer tangibility and thereby deepen and enhance spirituality, and the sanctification path, in which spirituality elevates character strengths. Finally, we turn to research-based practices and examine how character strengths might facilitate and contribute to spiritual practices and, conversely, how spirituality might enhance character strength practices. Such multifaceted integration offers insight and wisdom to both areas of study and opens up new directions for psycho-spiritual research and practices to deepen and broaden our understanding of what it means to be human.

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Section: Wholeness Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Decoding of the Human Spirit: A Synergy of Spirituality and Character Strengths Toward Wholeness

2020

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“…MI, described as one of several types of S/R struggles (20–24), is associated with questions, disorientation, and tensions about matters of deepest significance that arise within oneself, with other people, and/or with the sacred or Transcendent (15, 25–27). Positively associated with depressive symptoms and negatively with happiness, S/R struggles can impact psychological well-being and health, and cause significant distress (20, 27, 28) and decline (29–31). When a person is unable to resolve S/R struggles, one can experience compromised psychological, social, physical, and spiritual functioning; poor recovery from MI; increased mental health symptoms; and greater risk of mortality.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spirituality and Moral Injury Among Military Personnel: A Mini-Review

et al. 2019

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Introduction: Moral injury (MI) results when military personnel are exposed to morally injurious events that conflict with their values and beliefs. Given the complexity of MI and its physical, emotional, social, and spiritual impact, a holistic approach is needed. While the biopsychosocial aspects of MI are more commonly addressed, less is known of the spiritual dimension and how to incorporate it into treatment that facilitates restoration of one’s core self and mending of relationships with self, others, and the sacred/Transcendent. The purpose of this study was to gain a greater understanding of the relationship between spirituality/religion (S/R) and MI as experienced by military members and veterans and to consider how S/R might be better integrated into prevention and treatment strategies. Methods: A mini-review of peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and April 2018 regarding the relationship between spirituality and MI among military personnel and veterans was conducted. Results: Twenty-five articles were included in the final review. Five themes were identified and explored, including i) Spirituality: A potential cause of and protective factor against MI, ii) Self and identity: Lost and found, iii) Meaning-making: What once was and now is, iv) Spirituality as a facilitator of treatment for MI, and v) Faith communities: Possible sources of fragmentation or healing. Discussion: Findings identified a cyclical relationship between S/R and MI, whereby S/R can both mitigate and exacerbate MI, as well as be affected by it. Seen as a type of S/R struggle, the use of S/R-specific strategies [e.g., forgiveness, review of S/R beliefs, engagement in S/R practices, and (re)connection with S/R communities], integration of S/R perspectives into general interventions, and help from chaplains may support healing, self-regulation, and mending of relationships, moral emotions, and social connection. Further research is yet needed, however, regarding i) S/R orienting systems, interventions, practices, and rituals/ceremonies that might protect against and treat MI; ii) features of individuals who do/do not experience MI; iii) S/R assessment tools and interventions; and iv) ways to maximize the positive contributions of faith communities.

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“…The sacred dimension adds a deeper layer to one's search for significance. Depending on the degree to which spirituality is well‐integrated in peoples’ lives, various forms of spiritual coping can steer people towards greater wholeness or brokenness (Pargament, ; Pargament, Wong, & Exline, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Hand of God or the Work of the Devil? Spiritual Appraisals and Psychological Adjustment After the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

Wong

Waite

Wasson

et al. 2019

Anal Soc Iss & Public Policy

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To what extent do people perceive the election of President Trump as the work of evil forces, a violation of the sacred, or the will of God? Demonization and desecration are negative spiritual appraisals associated with psychological maladjustment across political and relational contexts. Sanctification refers to the imbuing of persons, objects, or events with sacred qualities or as manifestations of a higher power. The authors examined the prevalence and role of spiritual appraisals related to the 2016 U.S. presidential election result on psychological adjustment and behaviors using a cross-sectional online sample of 252 American voters. Approximately one-fifth of participants sanctified the election of President Trump to some degree. Conversely, approximately one-third of participants endorsed some level of negative spiritual appraisals. Desecration and demonization also uniquely predicted maladjustment. Moreover, the interactive effect between vote and negative spiritual appraisals accounted for unique variance in maladjustment. At higher levels of demonization and desecration, those who voted for President Trump reported greater difficulties with emotion regulation than Spiritual Appraisals and Adjustment After the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election 225 those who voted against President Trump. Negative spiritual appraisals also moderated the relations between vote and thought suppression, in addition to vote and information seeking behavior. For the small fraction of Trump voters with negative spiritual appraisals, their efforts to suppress misgivings, struggle with emotions, and seek information may be understood as attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance.

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Wholeness and Holiness: The Spiritual Dimension of Eudaimonics

Cited by 34 publications

References 69 publications

The Decoding of the Human Spirit: A Synergy of Spirituality and Character Strengths Toward Wholeness

The Decoding of the Human Spirit: A Synergy of Spirituality and Character Strengths Toward Wholeness

Spirituality and Moral Injury Among Military Personnel: A Mini-Review

The Hand of God or the Work of the Devil? Spiritual Appraisals and Psychological Adjustment After the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election

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