Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence Peter L. Benson

2 Religious Involvement Development Spiritual Development Schooling Development Cognitive Development

3 DefinitionDefinition Spiritual development is the process of growing the intrinsic human capacity for self- transcendence, in which the self is embedded in something greater than the self, including the sacred. It is the developmental “engine” that propels the search for connectedness, meaning, purpose, and contribution. It is shaped both within and outside of religious traditions, beliefs, and practices.

4 U.S. Youth Reporting Religious/Spiritual Importance and/or Frequent Participation in Religious Community N% Total216,38372 Male102,37769 Female112,40675 Search Institute aggregate data,

5 U.S. Youth Reporting Religious/Spiritual Importance and/or Frequent Participation in Religious Community: By Grade N% 6th25, th27, th47, th30, th37, th29, th 18,903 18,90365 Search Institute aggregate data,

6 U.S. Youth Reporting Religious/Spiritual Importance and/or Frequent Participation in Religious Community: By Race/Ethnicity N% Native American 2,08566 Asian/Pacific Islander 6,48570 African American 29,39583 Latino/Latina22,71674 White147,07370 Search Institute aggregate data,

7 Overview of Correlational Studies  Modest but significant relationships (–) to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, violence, crime, and anti-social behavior  Modest but significant relationships (+) to school success, resiliency, and prosocial behavior  Modest but significant relationships (–) to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, violence, crime, and anti-social behavior  Modest but significant relationships (+) to school success, resiliency, and prosocial behavior

8... While masking variability in Depth, Quality, Context, and Culture.

9 Articles on Development Social Science Abstracts PsycINFO 6 Selected Journals Cognitive development 1,04313, Psychosocial development 6119, Moral development 2811,33169 Emotional development 1701,63466 Behavioral development Spiritual development Spiritual development AND children or adolescents 4370

10 The Search Institute Initiative with Support of the John Templeton Foundation v vThe Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence (Sage) v vReligious Perspectives on Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence v vIn preparation for a long-term international research and dissemination initiative v vThe Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence (Sage) v vReligious Perspectives on Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence v vIn preparation for a long-term international research and dissemination initiative

11 Allied Efforts in the Field v vAn Encyclopedia of Spiritual and Religious Development in Childhood and Adolescence (Dowling & Scarlett, Eds., for Sage) v vSpecial Issue of Applied Developmental Science v vChapter in the next edition of the Handbook of Child Psychology (Scarlett & Oser) v vNumerous conferences, professional meetings, and interest groups emerging v vAn Encyclopedia of Spiritual and Religious Development in Childhood and Adolescence (Dowling & Scarlett, Eds., for Sage) v vSpecial Issue of Applied Developmental Science v vChapter in the next edition of the Handbook of Child Psychology (Scarlett & Oser) v vNumerous conferences, professional meetings, and interest groups emerging

12 & Opportunities Challenges