“The limitations of literalness and an excessive reliance upon reciprocity as a principle for constructing an ultimate environment can result either in an overcontrolling, stilted perfectionism or "works righteousness" or in their opposite, an abasing sense of badness embraced because of mistreatment, neglect or the apparent disfavor of significant others.” ReligionFaithBeliefLiteralnessStage 2 Book:Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning Source: Stages of Faith: The Psychology of Human Development and the Quest for Meaning