Physiology and Faith: Addressing the “Universal” Gender Difference in Religious Commitment

2002/09/01 by Rodney Stark · 377 citations
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Criminology #Differential effects #Epistemology #Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior #Faith #Generalization #Medicine #Nothing #Phenomenon #Psychology #Religion and Society Interactions #Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology #Social psychology #Socialization

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/1468-5906.00133

published in Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion 41(3), 495-507 (Wiley)

openalex publication_date 2002/09/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21

Abstract

That men are less religious than women is a generalization that holds around the world and across the centuries. However, there has been virtually no study of this phenomenon because it has seemed so obvious that it is the result of differential sex role socialization. Unfortunately, actual attempts to isolate socialization effects on gender differences in religiousness have failed, as have far more frequent and careful efforts to explain gender differences in crime. There is a growing body of plausible evidence in support of physiological bases for gender differences in crime. Making the assumption that, like crime, irreligiousness is an aspect of a general syndrome of short–sighted, risky behaviors leads to the conclusion that male irreligiousness may also have a physiological basis. If nothing else, this article may prompt creative efforts to salvage the socialization explanation.

Citations

• Religious Practice: A Human Capital Approach
• Risk and Religion: An Explanation of Gender Differences in Religiosity

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