Abstract Book

Attachment to God and God Representations: Evidence from the Circumplex of Faith Modes (CFM)
Authors:
Piotr Szydłowski, Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University in Warsaw
Abstract ID: 26
Language: Polish
Presenter Name: Piotr Szydłowski

Based on the Circumplex of Faith Modes (CFM; Szydłowski & Cieciuch, 2023), the present study examined the relationships between faith modes, attachment styles to God (Beck & McDonald, 2004), and God representations (Sharp et al., 2021). The sample consisted of 409 participants (Mage = 37.63, SD = 14.19; 50.4% women) who self-identified as believers in God (92.4% Catholics). Participants completed: (a) the Circumplex of Faith Modes Questionnaire (Szydłowski & Cieciuch, 2023), measuring eight faith modes organized within a circumplex defined by four bipolar dimensions: relationship with God (Trust vs. Fear), attitude toward doctrine (Orthodoxy vs. Heterodoxy), the role of the religious community (Ecclesiality vs. Egocentrism), and the role of the self (Invention vs. Receptivity); (b) the Attachment to God Inventory (Beck & McDonald, 2004), assessing two insecure attachment styles toward God; and (c) the Questionnaire God Representations (Schaap-Jonker & Vrijmoeth, 2024), measuring six representations of God. Results indicated that avoidant and anxious attachment styles significantly predicted three dimensions of the Circumplex of Faith Modes. The strongest effect emerged for the Trust–Fear dimension. Cluster analysis of God representations revealed three distinct profiles. These profiles were significantly associated with configurations of faith modes. The largest differences between clusters occurred on the Trust–Fear dimension. The positive God representation cluster showed the highest Trust and lowest Fear, whereas the negative representation cluster showed the lowest Trust and highest Fear, along with higher Egocentrism. The intermediate cluster occupied a middle position but was characterized by the highest Orthodoxy.