<P> Additional research suggests the social component of ritual . For instance, findings suggest that ritual performance indicates group commitment and prevents the uncommitted from gaining membership benefits . Ritual may aid in emphasizing moral values that serve as group norms and regulate societies . It may also strengthen commitment to moral convictions and likelihood of upholding these social expectations . Thus, performance of rituals may foster social group stability . </P> <P> There is considerable literature on the relationship between religion and health . More than 3000 empirical studies have examined relationships between religion and health, including more than 1200 in the 20th century, and more than 2000 additional studies between 2000 and 2009 . </P> <P> Psychologists consider that there are various ways in which religion may benefit both physical and mental health, including encouraging healthy lifestyles, providing social support networks and encouraging an optimistic outlook on life; prayer and meditation may also help to benefit physiological functioning . Nevertheless, religion is not a unique source of health and well - being, and there are benefits to nonreligiosity as well . The journal "American Psychologist" published important papers on this topic in 2003 . Haber, Jacob and Spangler have considered how different dimensions of religiosity may relate to health benefits in different ways . </P> <P> Some studies have examined whether there is a "religious personality ." Research suggests that people who identify as religious are more likely to be high on agreeableness and conscientiousness, and low on psychoticism, but unrelated to other Big Five traits . However, people endorsing fundamentalist religious beliefs are more likely to be low on Openness . Similarly, people who identify as spiritual are more likely to be high on Extroversion and Openness, although this varied based on the type of spirituality endorsed . </P>

Who attacked and explained away religion as the result of various psychological needs and complexes