I have continued my psychological study of atheism, and have more to add on the subject (see Part I and Part II). Severe loss during childhood or adolescence and childhood unhappiness also appears to be a factor in the making of an atheist. However, this research was published in 1932, and to my knowledge has not been replicated or studied further. While the research is somewhat scant, there have been some studies that have revealed interestingly demographic and experiential associations with atheism. One study found that half of younger atheists had lost one or both parents in childhood and had an unhappy childhood and adolescence. (1) I would speculate that the rising divorce rate is a factor in current development of atheism, because on average this would result in a greater degree of absence of the father.
While the study cited above is interesting, this study is from 1932, and has not been repeated recently to my knowledge. There have been many cultural and sociological changes since that time. That said, there is some evidence to support part of the assertion of unhappiness.
“In representative surveys of the U.S. population in the 1970s and 1980s, the unaffiliated were found to be younger, mostly male, with higher levels of education and income, more liberal, but also more unhappy and more alienated in terms of the larger society.” (2)
In the US, more men than women are atheists 7% (men) versus 1.3% (women). (2)
So the factors most associated with becoming an atheist are (not ranked in order of significance):
1). loss of a parent in childhood
2). unhappy childhood/adolescent period
3). younger age
4). male (almost 7 times more likely)
5). have an avoidant attachment style
6). had relationship problems with their father (see Some Psychological Aspects of Atheism).
7). some women have had traumatic experiences with clergy (Probably for men to, but this hasn’t been studied.)
8). higher education and income
9). more liberal in political beliefs
10). more likely to self-identify as an intellectual elite and place a high value on intellectual achievement
So, it’s important to keep in mind when speaking with an atheist that they may be quiet familiar with pain and suffering personally. In my experience, they may be unlikely to reveal this and point to purely ‘intellectual’ reasons for their atheism. I’m not saying that they don’t have some intellectual reasons, but I am asserting a strong psychological component to becoming an atheist. Often, there appears to be a strong component of anger fueling their beliefs, of which they may have little awareness. It’s interesting to me, the split between men and women in atheistic beliefs, and I’m not sure of the explanation for that difference.
As an update to Part II, take a look at Paul Zachary Meyrs website (Note he eschews his Christian name for “PZ”). In particular, take a look at the comments to see if you can see the elements outlined in Part II of this series.
(1) Vetter GB, Green M: Personality and group factors in the making of atheists. J Abnorm Soc Psychology 1932–1933; 27:179–194
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August 4, 2008 at 3:44 pm
DB Williams
This is very interesting to me, since I had an unhappy childhood: paternal relationship, shunned by others, and mainly because I was overweight, male and, later on in life, college educated and liberal in my late teens through early thirties. I was gregarious as a child, but, by my late teens and early twenties, I had become suspicious of and confrontational with people, in particular, strangers or people who seemed to think of me as inferior, intellectually and physically. I deserted religion and God at age twenty, and I built walls that had become too thick and tall for me to tear down. Only God could tear those walls down, which he ultimately did, but I would do much damage to myself and those I loved before the walls would crumble. I want to apply the emotion that I feel now to compassion for those who are still held captive by a lie. As you know better than I, there is so much pain in many of or our lives, and we have believed that this pain is just part of living: “adjust,” “Get over it” “You’re not the only one who has…” etc.
This may sound strange, but I wish I had my father, right now, to hug! Funny how are minds and emotions can have such a strong impact on us! Thank you for your insight!
August 4, 2008 at 4:59 pm
thecountryshrink
Thank you for your comment and sharing your personal experience. It doesn’t sound strange to me at all to wish your father was still here to hug. There is a certain amount of pain that is part of living, but there can often be pain that goes much deeper as you discovered. I am very glad that God was able to bring you back to Him. He did a similar thing with me. He can even use some of that pain to change us and transform it into something positive.
August 4, 2008 at 10:05 pm
DB Williams
I knew you would understand! If all of us could only come to understand and experience the love and grace of God, then there wouldn’t be so much pain and suffering in this world. That’s not just a statement of belief, on my part, it’s a desire, a longing. Somedays, I can seem as distant and cold as the rest of the world, and these are the days that I’m not seeing reality clearly, but when God softens my heart again, then I am well and can sense and see what he desires for me and everyone else.
“Consider it all joy…when you encounter various trials…knowing that the testing of your faith is producing perseverence, and let perseverence have its way with you, so you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” God is good!!
September 14, 2008 at 6:36 pm
lirone
Of course one person’s experience doesn’t count as evidence… but I personally don’t identify with any of your descriptions. I would answer a resounding “no” to points 1-7, yes to higher education but no to income, and a yes to 9 and 10.
I think your experiences with atheists come from a rather biased sample – either those who are seeking psychological help or those who are sufficiently angry about religion to make it a large feature of their blogs. (Mostly I get on quite happily without religion and it doesn’t take up much of my thinking time, though I do get annoyed occasionally at religious intrusion into my life.)
At any rate, your conclusions really don’t seem representative of me or the atheists I know.
You do quote one representative survey, but the only negative qualities I notice are unhappiness and alienation, which strike me as unsurprising given the level of hostility and discrimination against atheists that seems prominent in the US. Have you seen similar results from surveys taken in other countries?
September 14, 2008 at 7:06 pm
thecountryshrink
Such is psychology. There are always exceptions to the rule. There are few laws of behavior and psychology that hold true for everyone.
Perhaps you have a point. It doesn’t apply to everyone. I happen to believe that when it comes down to it, folks make a choice about what they want to believe.
This is kind of a chicken and the egg type of argument. I don’t think there’s a whole lot of discrimination against atheists. A lot of self-imposed alienation–yes. I am unaware of any cross cultural studies on atheism if they exist, but I’ll post on that in the future if I run across any. Thank you for your comment.