Understanding Spiritual Abuse: Incentives to Preserve Spiritual Power & Reducing Abusive Experiences
Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Arts (MA)
Major/Program
Latin American and Caribbean Studies
First Advisor's Name
Erik Larson
First Advisor's Committee Title
committee member
Second Advisor's Name
Ana Maria Bidegain
Second Advisor's Committee Title
committee member
Third Advisor's Name
Jose Miguel Cruz
Third Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Keywords
Christianity, Spiritual Abuse, Abuse, Religion, Religious Trauma, Trauma, Ontology, Protestantism, Miami, Latino, Latina, Latinx, Latiné, Latin America, theology, doctrine, narcissism, predatory, predators, church, mega church
Date of Defense
3-28-2024
Abstract
While the definition of spiritual abuse is still being refined in psychological contexts, more research is needed to explain why the phenomenon occurs in faith communities. Therefore, there is limited understanding of how to identify systems or cultures that may perpetuate or encourage spiritual abuse. Likewise, with limited understanding of the motivating factors in the perpetuation of spiritual abuse and how those factors inform the intensity of spiritually abusive experiences, it is impossible to create policies for preventing the phenomenon. This research seeks to discover how incentives for preserving spiritual power by Protestant leaders affect experiences of spiritual abuse in faith communities. The research hypothesizes that as incentives for Protestant authorities to preserve spiritual power decrease, so does intensity of spiritual abuse. The study found data that supported the proposed hypothesis. Also, I proposed a new theory explaining the phenomenon as well as a new definition for spiritual abuse.
Identifier
FIDC010978
Recommended Citation
Isaac, Eric, "Understanding Spiritual Abuse: Incentives to Preserve Spiritual Power & Reducing Abusive Experiences" (2024). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 5151.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/5151
Included in
Legal Theory Commons, Religion Law Commons, Social and Cultural Anthropology Commons, Sociology of Religion Commons
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