Publication Cover
The Journal of Positive Psychology
Dedicated to furthering research and promoting good practice
Volume 17, 2022 - Issue 3
1,148
Views
7
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Research Article

Experiencing Grace: A Review of the Empirical Literature

, ORCID Icon, , ORCID Icon, , & show all
Pages 375-388 | Received 09 Sep 2020, Accepted 30 Nov 2020, Published online: 22 Dec 2020

References

  • Allen, G. E. K., Wang, K. T., & Stokes, H. (2015). Examining legalism, scrupulosity, family perfectionism, and psychological adjustment among LDS individuals. Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, 18(4), 246–258. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2015.1021312
  • Allport, G. W., & Ross, J. M. (1967). Personal religious orientation and prejudice. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5(4), 432–443. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/h0021212
  • Arnett, D. R. (2017). Relationships between adolescent psychopathology and perceptions of family and sin [Doctoral Dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 10272693).
  • Baker, P., Song-Appleby, C. D., & Johnson, K. A. (2020). A qualitative study of older Protestants’ experiences of divine grace. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Bassett, R. L., Roberts Wesleyan College Psychology Research Group. (2013). An empirical consideration of grace and legalism within Christian experience. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 32(1), 43–69. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2013-41710-004
  • Bassett, R. L., Eastman, J., Gage, J., Holley, E., Marr, B., Pieters, J., & Touchstone, C. (2017). Is there a connection between perceptions of God’s grace and spiritual maturity? Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 36(3), 230–236.
  • Bassett, R. L., Falinski, K., Luitich, K., Pahls, K., Suhr, J., Tenore, C., & Wigle, A. (2012, March). Amazing grace [Poster presentation]. Meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Washington DC.
  • Bassett, R. L., Komerek, V., Davison, A., Costanza, J., Draper, B., Macmillen, A., Moore, S., Stalk, K., Stallone, D., & Vitalia, J. (2019b). Grace and forgiveness: Like lightning and thunder? Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 38(4), 227–236.
  • Bassett, R. L., Scott, S., Blodgett, R., Barnhart, M., Batterson, N., Hall, A., Pursel, M., & Emerson, M. (2020). May grace abound: Making God’s grace cognitively salient may increase reparative action. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 48(3), 218–228. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/0091647119890100
  • Beckenbach, J., Patrick, S., & Sells, J. (2010). Relationship conflict and restoration model: A preliminary exploration of concepts and therapeutic utility. Contemporary Family Therapy, 32(3), 290–301. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-010-9117-3
  • Blackburn, A. M., Sizemore, T. A., Smith, R. E., & Re, D. (2012, March). Hope and forgiveness as mediators of enacted grace in Christians: A survey with implications for psychotherapy [Presentation]. Meeting of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, Washington, DC.
  • Boszormenyi-Nagi, I. (1987). Foundations of contextual therapy: Collected Papers. Brunner/Mazel.
  • Bufford, R. K., Blackburn, A. M., Sisemore, T. A., & Bassett, R. L. (2015). Preliminary analyses of three measures of grace: Can they be unified? Journal of Psychology and Theology, 43(2), 86–97. https://digitalcommons.georgefox.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1107&context=gscp_fac
  • Bufford, R. K., McMinn, M. R., Moody, J. A., & Geczy-Haskins, L. (2018). The effects of grace interventions in church communities. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 13(5), 512–521. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2017.1350740
  • Bufford, R. K., Sisemore, T. A., & Blackburn, A. M. (2017). Dimensions of grace: Factor analysis of three grace scales. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(1), 56–69. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000064
  • Childress-Beatty, (2003). Religiosity, mysticism, and health in abused and non-abused women [Doctoral dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3088308).
  • Cook, J. D. (2014). The global relational attitudes conflict exam (GRACE) scale: An exploratory factor analysis [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3579797).
  • Dolores Merino, M., Velázques, M., & Lomas, T. (2019). An exploration of the Spanish cultural term rasmia: A combination of eagerness, strength, activeness, courage, tenacity, and gracefulness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 21(2), 693–707. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00104-y
  • Dudley, R. L. (1995). Grace, relevancy, and confidence in the future: Why adventist young adults commit to the church. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 14(3), 215–227.
  • Duggar, C. D. (1994). An investigation of selected elements of religious ideation as related to particular categories of psychopathology [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 9527282).
  • Emmons, R. A., Hill, P. C., Barrett, J. L., & Kapic, K. M. (2017). Psychological and theological reflections on grace and its relevance for science and practice. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(3), 276–284. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000136
  • Emmons, R. A., & McCullough, M. E. (Eds.). (2004). The psychology of gratitude. Oxford University Press.
  • Francis, L. J., Smith, G., & Francis-Dehqani, G. (2018). Empirical explorations into biblical theologies of grace: Employing the SIFT approach among Anglican clergy. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 37(3), 217–234. http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/109856/
  • Gorsuch, R. L., & McPherson, S. E. (1989). Intrinsic/extrinsic measurement: I/E revised and single-item scales. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 28(3), 348–354. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2307/1386745
  • Gowack, P. (1996). An existential-phenomenological investigation of the experience of “feeling grace” in being of service on a volunteer basis to the terminally ill [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 9831932).
  • Graves, M. (2017). Grace and virtue: Theological and psychological dispositions and practices. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9(3), 303–308. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000129
  • Gunton, R. (2012). A heuristic inquiry into the development of a mature masculine identity [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3495278).
  • Johnson, B. (2019). The obstacles to receiving grace in a substance abuse population [Doctoral dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 27785883).
  • Khalaf-Moughabghab, S. (2019). Humility, gratitude, forgiveness, grace, trust, and marital satisfaction among Lebanese couples [Doctoral dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 22615040).
  • McCarthy, C. T. (2012). Validating grace, defense, and pain in the relational conflict and restoration model [Doctoral dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3529125).
  • McMinn, M. R. (2017). The science of virtue: Why positive psychology matters to the church. Brazos Press.
  • McMinn, M. R., Ruiz, J. N., Marx, D., Wright, J. B., & Gilber, N. B. (2006). Professional psychology and the doctrines of sin and grace: Christian Leaders’ perspectives. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37(3), 295–302. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/0735-7028.37.3.295
  • Mikkelson, S. E. (2015). Effectiveness of the grace and hope model with Christian couples [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3700846).
  • Morgante, C. A. (2013). Grace and trust in hope-focused couples therapy [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3569157).
  • Padilla, J., & Stanford, M. S. (2011). Living grace group: Leaders guide. Unpublished manuscript available from the Mental Health Grace Alliance.
  • Patrick, S., Beckenbach, J., Sells, J., & Reardon, R. F. (2013). An empirical investigation into justice, grace, and forgiveness: Paths to relationship satisfaction. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 21(2), 146–153. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480712466540
  • Payton, J. T., Spradlin, J. D., & Bufford, R. K. (2000, March). A measure of grace: Preliminary development of a grace scale [Paper presentation]. Christian Association for Psychological Studies annual meetings, Tulsa, OK.
  • Poling, J. R. (2017). New masculinity: Exploring the effects of a men’s initiation weekend [Doctoral Dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 10263432).
  • Regal, N. C. (2005). The concept of salvation in 19-34-year-old seventh-day Adventists who live in the state of Indiana [Doctoral Dissertation (PhD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3153195).
  • Ripley, J. S., Sells, J. N., Miller, V., Wang, Q., Wen, L., Lau, C. P. T., & Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2019). Promoting healthy marriages in Chinese church communities: Survey of Chinese couple’s marriages, virtue-based training for leaders, and outcomes. The Family Journal, 28(3), 319-328. 1066480719887476.
  • Rogers, E. B., & Stanford, M. S. (2015). A church-based peer-led group intervention for mental illness. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture, 18(6), 470–481. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2015.1077560
  • Schnitker, S. A. (2012). An examination of patience and well-being. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 7(4), 263–280. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2012.697185
  • Schollars, N. A., McMinn, M. R., Dunlop, I. H., Peterson, K., Gathercoal, K., Thurston, N., & Webster, K. (2020). Experiences of grace as told by the LGBTQ community. Manuscript submitted for publication.
  • Seligman, M., & Csikszentmihalyi, M. (2000). Positive psychology: An introduction. American Psychologist, 55(1), 5–14. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.55.1.5
  • Sells, J., & Yarhouse, M. (2011). Counseling couples in conflict: A relational restoration model. InterVarsity Press.
  • Sells, J. N., Beckenbach, J., & Patrick, S. (2009). Pain and defense versus grace and justice: The relational conflict and restoration model. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 17(3), 203–212. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480709337802
  • Shariff, A. F., & Norenzayan, A. (2007). God is watching you: Priming god concepts increases social behavior in an anonymous economic game. Psychological Science, 18(9), 803–809. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.01983.x
  • Sisemore, T. A. (2016, August). Enacted grace as virtue: Initial research and measurement with suggested directions for future research [Presentation]. 124th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Denver, CO.
  • Sisemore, T. A., Killian, M., & Swanson, M. (2006, March). Initial development of the PSI Grace Scale [Presentation]. CAPS International Convention, Cincinnati, OH.
  • Sisemore, T. A., Swanson, M., Arbuckle, M., Fisher, R., Killian, M., McGinnis, J., & Mortellaro, E. (2011). Grace and Christian psychology-Part 1: Preliminary measurement, relationships, and implications for practice. Edification, 4, 57–63.
  • Spradlin, J. D. (2002). Shame, grace, and spirituality: A comparison of measures [Doctoral Dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 3067738).
  • Spradlin, J. D., Bufford, R. K., & Thurston, N. S. (2015). Shame, grace, and spiritual well-being: Preliminary findings [Unpublished manuscript]. Graduate School of Clinical Psychology, George Fox University.
  • Stamkou, E., Homan, A. C., & Kleef, G. A. (2020). Climbing the ladder or falling from grace?: A threat-opportunity framework of the effect of norm violations on social rank. Current Opinion in Psychology, 33, 74–79. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2019.07.012
  • Tennent, T. C. (2007). Theology in the context of world Christianity. Zondervan.
  • Tjeltveit, A. C. (2004). Understanding human beings in the light of grace: The possibility and promise of theology-informed psychologies. Consensus, 2(5), 99–122. https://scholars.wlu.ca/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1243&context=consensus
  • Watson, P. J., Chen, Z., & Sisemore, T. A. (2011). Grace and Christian psychology-Part 2: Psychometric refinements and relationships with self-compassion, depression, beliefs about sin, and religious orientation. Edification, 4, 64–72.
  • Watson, P. J., Hood, R. W., & Morris, R. J. (1985). Religiosity, sin and self-esteem. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 13(2), 116–128. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718501300204
  • Watson, P. J., Hood, R. W., & Morris, R. J. (1987). Antireligious humanistic values, guilt, and self esteem. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 26(4), 535–546. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.2307/1387103
  • Watson, P. J., Morris, J. R., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (1988a). Sin and self-functioning, Part 1: Grace, guilt, and self-consciousness. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 16(3), 254–269. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718801600305
  • Watson, P. J., Morris, R. J., & Hood, R. W., Jr. (1988b). Sin and self-functioning, part 2: Grace, guilt and psychological adjustment. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 16(3), 270–281. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1177/009164718801600306
  • Weeks, T. L. (2020). Cultural humility and grace in explicitly Christian programs [Doctoral dissertation (PsyD)]. Available from Proquest Dissertations and Theses Global Database. (UMI No. 27831215).
  • Worthington, E. L. (2005). Hope-focused marriage counseling: A guide to brief therapy (Expanded paperback ed.). InterVarsity Press.
  • Worthington, E. L., Jr., Davis, D. E., & Hook, J. N. (Eds.). (2017). The handbook of humility: Theory, research, and application. Routledge.
  • Worthington, E. L., Jr., & Wade, N. G. (Eds.). (2019). The handbook of forgiveness (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.