Daryl R. Van Tongeren
The Psychology of Religious Change and Meaning-Making
I study how people construct meaning in the face of religious change, identity disruption, and existential challenges. My research examines when belief systems help—or hinder—psychological adaptation, particularly during periods of struggle, deidentification, and worldview transformation.
Integrating social, personality, and existential psychology, I investigate how individuals rebuild meaningful worldviews and reconstruct identity after shifts in deeply held beliefs. My work also explores the downstream consequences of meaning-making processes for mental health, relationships, and social functioning.
Across experimental, longitudinal, and interdisciplinary approaches, my research advances a broader program on how humans adapt to the loss and reconstruction of meaning systems.
Research Foci
Religious Change as Identity Disruption
I examine how religious change, specifically leaving religion, is a form of identity change and disruption, resulting in lingering religious residue.
Meaning-Making as a Pathway to Health and Well-Being
I used a diverse array of methods to explore when, and under what conditions, meaning-making facilitates flourishing or erodes well-being.
An Existential Framework for Belief Revision
Drawing from experimental existential approaches, I investigate the nature and consequences of revising our most cherished and deeply-held beliefs.