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Journal of Religion and Health

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19.04.2016 | Original Paper

Refusal of Medical Blood Transfusions Among Jehovah’s Witnesses: Emotion Regulation of the Dissonance of Saving and Sacrificing Life

verfasst von: Hege Kristin Ringnes, Harald Hegstad

Erschienen in: Journal of Religion and Health | Ausgabe 5/2016

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Abstract

This study focuses on the requirement of JWs to refuse medical blood transfusions. We identified a life–death cognitive dissonance among JWs, with the opposing cognitions of being willing to sacrifice life by religious standards, while being unwilling to do so. Using a theory that connects cognitive dissonance with the need to regulate difficult emotions to analyze our qualitative data material, we identified two sets of dissonance reduction strategies among the JWs. Set 1 was tied to the individual-group: selective focus on eternal life, a non-blood support and control system, and increased individualization of treatment choices. Set 2 was in the religion versus medicine intersection: denial of risk combined with optimism, perception of blood as dangerous, and use of medical language to underscore religious doctrine.

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Titel: Refusal of Medical Blood Transfusions Among Jehovah’s Witnesses: Emotion Regulation of the Dissonance of Saving and Sacrificing Life
verfasst von: Hege Kristin Ringnes
Harald Hegstad
Publikationsdatum: 19.04.2016
Verlag: Springer US
Erschienen in: Journal of Religion and Health / Ausgabe 5/2016
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0236-5

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Abstract

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