The Prospects for a Normative Psychology of Religion: G. W. Allport as a Paradigm

Although problematical, a normative psychology of religion and its contribution merit serious attention along with other normative approaches to religion. To clarify “norm” and “normal,” use is made of a Scale of Norms in comparing major types of norms in terms of their status and derivation. Allport is cited as a paradigm because of his awareness of assumed values and the limits of psychological inquiry; because his normative perspective is multifaceted, his criteria are interrelated, and he opens the way for interaction with other normative approaches. Through the use of tables, his criteria, their sources, and their functions are compared and analyzed. In conclusion, it is noted that an established direct correlation between one set of criteria and another does not determine whether we ought to satisfy these criteria; rather, ideal norms must finally be determined by personal beliefs and ethical choices.