Abstract
Changes in religious and spiritual trends over the past few decades are contradicting previously held assumptions in academia pertaining to personal religious and spiritual definitions, identities and how these religious and spiritual identities are affected by higher educational attainment. In addition, there is limited research on how students may resolve cognitive dissonance if it develops due to discrepancies between their college experiences and their personal spiritual or religious convictions. The intent of this thesis is to explore the effects of college experience and higher educational attainment on students' religious and spiritual identities; to explore the growing trend to identify as 'spiritual, but not religious;' and to explore whether any changes in their religious and spiritual identity are as a result of adjustments spurred by cognitive dissonance. This study helps fill in gaps in current literature about the effects of higher education on religious and spiritual identity and their resolutions of cognitive dissonance.
Notes
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Thesis Completion
2012
Semester
Spring
Advisor
Gay, David A.
Degree
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
College
College of Sciences
Degree Program
Sociology
Subjects
Dissertations, Academic -- Sciences;Sciences -- Dissertations, Academic
Format
Identifier
CFH0004179
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Document Type
Honors in the Major Thesis
Recommended Citation
Gaulden, Shawn, "Sacred changes on campus the effects of higher educational experience on religiosity and spirituality, and resolving cognitive dissonance" (2012). HIM 1990-2015. 1266.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses1990-2015/1266
Included in
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