Refining Religious Belief--Behavior Relations

In this study, we attempted to improve the prediction of altruism and other behaviors from religious beliefs by measuring specific instead of general beliefs and by distinguishing between intellectually and emotionally based beliefs. Seventy-one undergraduate subjects participated. Altruism was measured by giving subjects a chance to volunteer for various helping activities. A brief questionnaire measured subjects' beliefs about the importance to their religion of helping the needy. In addition, the Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Quest scales were given. These scales, and the specific belief questionnaire, were administered in both intellectually and emotionally based versions. As predicted, specific beliefs about the importance to one's religion of helping the needy correlated significantly with willingness to volunteer, whereas the Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Quest scales did not. Contrary to prediction, emotionally based versions of measures did not correlate significantly higher with behavior than did intellectually based versions. It was concluded that behavior can be predicted from religious beliefs, but that prediction is improved if specific beliefs are measured.