What is the “Relational” in Relational Spirituality? A Review of Definitions and Research Directions

ABSTRACT

“Relational spirituality” is a term that has been increasingly employed in psychological literature in recent years with a variety of definitions and within different theoretical orientations. In this article, we identify and review five ways relational spirituality is understood in terms of (a) cognitive appraisals of stress and coping; (b) implicit relational development; (c) couples, family, and community contexts; (d) social interconnection; and (e) a differentiation-based model of spiritual development. We conclude with a discussion of conceptual, psychometric, and applied issues related to this topic, and offer suggestions for future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Attachment
• differentiation
• religion
• spirituality
• virtue

Notes

¹ We want to thank Dr. Edouard Fontenot for this helpful distinction between additive and constitutive approaches to spirituality.