Question

To what extent should the Christian worldview influence the type of psychology research conducted and the ethics of that research? Why?

Answer 1

Christian psychology is an amalgamation of theology and psychology, with the religion of Christianity and teachings of Jesus Christ as its foundation or basis, to analyze and comprehend human mind and behavior. Christian psychologists believe in the existence of God and the utilization scriptures of the Bible for therapies and counselling. Their clients are treated as individuals in need of Jesus Christ. Christian psychologists are expected to 'teach, provide, preach and pray', as Jesus.

Christian worldview or Christian teachings or the belief in Jesus is known to influence psychological research and its ethics. Research conducted by Christian psychologists is based on the 'impossibility of truly objective and value-free research'. Thus, it can be said that Christian teachings incorporated in research, lead to subjective and valueless results. Such research studies are based on the ideas and principles based on already established Christian tradition. Such research are different from the usual psychological research.

Christian worldview should highly influence psychological research and its ethics as the results of several empirical research studies have been found to be related to Christian teachings.

Diana Baumrind's research on parenting styles found that parents who lend their ears to their teenagers and place clear limits on their behaviors are most likely to nurture and create healthy adults. This result is closely related to the teachings of the apostle Paul to parents, that one should not infuriate children, but raise them in the training and instruction of the God. Research prooving that releasing anger is not good for oneself and the people in the surrounding, are related to the preaching of the apostle Paul, that one should eliminate all bitterness, rage and anger.