Abstract
This chapter examines the numinous constructs of religiousness and spirituality relative to one another and to the five-factor model of personality (FFM). An empirical approach to defining numinous measures that involves the FFM will be outlined. The value of this approach will be highlighted through an examination of spirituality and religiousness’ relations to subjective wellbeing. A review of the literature demonstrates that spirituality and religiousness have an unmediated impact on levels of life satisfaction. Two important conclusions will be developed from these findings. First, the numinous constructs represent universal human motivations that are not redundant with extant models of personality. Thus, any model of human functioning needs to include these constructs, if it is to be comprehensive. Second, because numinous constructs have the potential for impacting psychological functioning, the potential exists for the identification of a new class of intervention techniques that can promote durable psychological change.
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Piedmont, R.L. (2009). The Contribution of Religiousness and Spirituality to Subjective Wellbeing and Satisfaction with Life. In: de Souza, M., Francis, L.J., O’Higgins-Norman, J., Scott, D. (eds) International Handbook of Education for Spirituality, Care and Wellbeing. International Handbooks of Religion and Education, vol 3. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-9018-9_6
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