Reminding a person of the religious beliefs can encourage them to be less hostile in the face of threats that heighten aggressive tendencies, a new study has revealed.

According to research by York University, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, this trend is apparent among people of different faiths, from Hindus and Muslims to Jews and Christians.

Ian McGregor, a psychology professor at the institution, suggested this is because people tend to associate their religious beliefs with ideas such as forgiveness and forbearance.

"They turn to them when the chips are down, in threatening circumstances," he commented.

Professor McGregor said the research showed that even brief reminders of their faith that are "not accompanied by any explicit beliefs or injunctions tend to promote more magnanimous, less hostile choices in threatening circumstances".

The study added that while news providers tend to focus on atrocities committed in the name of religion, such as terrorist attacks, it appears as if faith has a more positive effect on people than the media often suggests.

In 2012 we reported a study suggesting that people who are highly religious can be affected by narcissism in much the same way as those who have no such orientation.

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