Patience as a virtue: Religious and psychological perspectives

Abstract

This chapter seeks to understand the religious and psychological underpinnings of patience and presents the Patience Scale to measure individual differences in the trait. Undergraduate psychology students completed survey packets containing items to measure patience as well as the Values in Action Strengths Scale (VIA-IS), measures of religiousness/spirituality, and measures of self-control, time perspective, the Big Five, and mindfulness. Patience was significantly related to spiritual transcendence (ST) and to religious behaviors. Anticipated uses of the Patience Scale and implications for future research are discussed in the chapter. Christians are instructed in Ephesians 4:2 to display patience towards other people, Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Patience is also a fundamental virtue of Islam. As in Judaism and Christianity, patience is a part of Allah's nature. The Hindu religion also promotes the development of patience as part of a virtuous life. Keywords: Christianity; Ephesians; Hindu religion; Islam; Judaism; Patience; psychology students; religious behaviors; spiritual transcendence (ST); Values in Action Strengths Scale (VIA-IS)

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