Psychological Type, Religion, and Culture

Christopher Alan Lewis

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• eBook ISBN: 9781351113571
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: History & Theory in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

Comprising a selection of contemporary state of the art research that focuses on psychological type, religion, and culture, this book can be divided into two particular areas of research. The first section focuses on the religion and psychological type of Church leaders, while the second section reports on Church members, their religion, and their psychological type.

The book attests to the importance of Jungian Psychological Type theory in understanding individual differences in religiosity within a variety of samples. Authored by a wide range of international scholars, employing a wide range of measures, among diverse samples and in a variety of different cultures, this research provides an important contribution to current and future research. It facilitates future research work in the area outside of the white, Anglo-Saxon, Anglophone, Christian context on which it has traditionally been focused. This book was originally published as a double special issue of the Mental Health, Religion & Culture journal.

Confirming the psychological type profile of Anglican clergymen in Wales: a ministry for sensing types

V. John Payne and Christopher Alan Lewis

Within the psychology of religion, there is growing interest in the theoretical and empirical contributions of psychological type theory. For example, a series of studies has explored the psychological type profile of religious professionals. The present study examined the psychological type profile of Anglican clergymen serving within the Church in Wales. A sample of 268 clergymen completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales. The data demonstrated a group of clergymen who prefer introversion (65%) over extraversion (35%), sensing (57%) over intuition (43%), feeling (68%) over thinking (32%), and judging (78%) over perceiving (27%). The three predominant types among this group of clergymen were ISFJ (22%), ISTJ (13%), and ESFJ (11%). These findings are discussed to illuminate two problems: the significant difference between the psychological type profile of Anglican clergymen in Wales and the UK male population norms, and the contrast between the preference for sensing among Anglican clergymen in Wales and the preference for intuition demonstrated by earlier research among Anglican clergymen in England.

Introduction

Psychological type theory has offered an interesting and fruitful bridge between the empirical psychology of religion and empirical theology (Francis, 2009). Within the psychology of religion, psychological type theory has provided a model of personality useful for exploring and explaining individual differences in religious and spiritual experiences and preferences (Lewis, 2012). Within empirical theology, psychological type theory has provided a vocabulary for connecting observation of human differences with systematic theology and hermeneutical theory (Francis & Village, 2008).

Psychological type theory discusses basic and fundamental psychological differences in terms of typological distinctions: two orientations defined as introversion and extraversion, two perceiving functions defined as sensing and intuition, two judging functions defined as thinking and feeling, and two attitudes towards the outer world defined as judging and perceiving.

The orientations are concerned with identifying the sources of psychological energy. In this area, the two discrete types are defined as extraversion and introversion. For extravert types, the source of energy is located in the outer world of people and things. Extraverts are exhausted by large periods of solitude and silence; and they need to re-energise through the stimulation they receive from people and places. Extraverts are talkative people who feel at home in social contexts. For introvert types, the source of energy is located in the inner world of ideas and reflection. Introverts are exhausted by long periods of social engagements and sounds; and they need to re-energise through the stimulation they receive from their own company and tranquillity.

The perceiving processes are concerned with identifying ways in which individuals take in information. For Jung, the perceiving processes were described as irrational processes because they were not concerned with data evaluation, but simply with data gathering. In this area, the two discrete types are defined as sensing and as intuition. For sensing types, the preferred way of perceiving is through the five senses. Sensers are motivated by facts, details, and information. They build up to the big picture slowly by focusing first on the component parts. They are more comfortable in the present moment rather than in exploring future possibilities. They are realistic and practical people. For intuitive types, the preferred way of perceiving is through their imagination. Intuitives are motivated by theories, ideas, and connections. They begin with the big picture and gradually give attention to the component parts. They are more comfortable planning the future than making do with the present. They are inspirational and visionary people.

The judging processes are concerned with identifying ways in which individuals evaluate information. For Jung, the judging processes were described as the rational processes because they were concerned with data evaluation and with decision-making. In this area, the two discrete types are defined as thinking and as feeling. For thinking types, the preferred way of judging is through objective analysis and dispassionate logic. They are concerned with the good running of systems and organisations and put such strategic issues first. They are logical and fair-minded people who appeal to the God of justice. For feeling types, the preferred way of judging is through subjective evaluation and personal involvement. They are concerned with the good relationships between people and put such inter-personal issues first. They are humane and warm-hearted people who appeal to the God of mercy.

The attitudes (often more fully expressed as the “attitudes toward the outer world”) are concerned with identifying which of the two processes (judging or perceiving) individuals prefer to use in the outer world. In this area, the two discrete types are defined by the name of the preferred process, either judging or perceiving. For judging types, their preferred judging function (either thinking or feeling) is employed in their outer world. Because their outer world is where the rational, evaluating, judging, or decision-making process is deployed, judging types appear to others to be well-organised decisive people. For perceiving types, their preferred perceiving function (either sensing or intuition) is employed in their outer world. Because their outer world is where the irrational, data gathering process is deployed, perceiving types appear to others to be laid-back, flexible, even disorganised people.

Since the early 2000s, a connected series of independent but interrelated studies has begun to assemble a composite picture of the psychological type profile of religious professionals working within a variety of church traditions within the UK, including Anglican clergymen serving in the Church of England (Francis, Craig, Whinney, Tilley, & Slater, 2007; Francis, Robbins, Duncan, & Whinney, 2010; Village, 2011; Francis, Robbins, & Whinney, 2011; Francis & Holmes, 2011; Francis, Robbins, & Jones, 2012; Francis & Village, 2012; Village 2013), Anglican clergy serving in the Church in Wales (Francis, Payne, & Jones, 2001; Francis, Littler, & Robbins, 2010), Anglican seminaries (Francis, Craig, & Butler, 2007), Apostolic Network leaders (Kay, Francis, & Robbins, 2011), Bible College students (Francis, Penson, & Jones, 2001; Kay & Francis, 2008; Kay, Francis, & Craig, 2008), Evangelical church leaders (Francis & Robbins, 2002; Craig, Francis, & Robbins, 2004; Francis, Craig, Horsfall, & Ross, 2005), Free Church Ministers (Francis, Whinney, Burton, & Robbins, 2011), missionary personnel (Craig, Horsfall, & Francis, 2005), Methodist circuit ministers (Burton, Francis, & Robbins, 2010), Newfrontiers lead elders (Francis, Gubb, & Robbins, 2009), Roman Catholic priests (Craig, Duncan, & Francis, 2006), and youth ministers (Francis, Nash, Nash, & Craig, 2007).

Two main conclusions emerge from these studies. The first conclusion is that the psychological type profiles of clergymen and clergywomen differ significantly from the population norms generated from men and women in the UK by Kendall (1998). The second conclusion is that there are significant differences between different groups of religious professionals, varying according to denominational affiliation and according to church traditions or styles of believing. One of the most fascinating comparisons to emerge from this set of studies concerns the difference in profile recorded by Anglican clergy serving in the Church of England and Anglican clergy serving in the Church in Wales. Here are two Churches within the same Anglican Communion separated only by the permeable boundary along Offa’s Dyke. This observed difference is worth further investigation to ensure that the observed differences are not merely an accident of sampling or an accident of measurement.

To date two studies have reported on the psychological type profile of Anglican clergymen serving in the Church in Wales: Francis, Payne et al. (2001) drew on data from 427 clergymen and Francis, Littler et al. (2010) drew on data from 231 clergymen. Two other studies have reported on the psychological type profile of Anglican clergymen serving in the Church of England: Francis, Craig, Whinney et al. (2007) drew on data from 626 clergymen and Francis, Robbins et al. (2010) drew on data from 622 clergymen. In terms of the orientations, the attitudes and the judging process, clergymen from England and Wales recorded similar profiles, but in terms of the perceiving process the two groups emerge quite differently.

In terms of the orientations, all four studies demonstrate a clear preference for introversion: in Wales 59% according to Francis, Payne et al. (2001) and 69% according to Francis, Littler et al. (2010), and in England 57% according to Francis, Craig, Whinney et al. (2007) and 64% according to Francis, Robbins et al. (2010). Clergy who prefer introversion display distinctive strengths in ministry. They may be energised by private study and by periods of solitary preparation, by one-to-one encounters in counselling and in spiritual direction, by contemplative prayer and reflection, and by focusing deeply on interior spiritual issues. On the other hand, clergy who prefer introversion may be drained by some of the public aspects of ministry, such as attending social events, speaking in public (especially when required to be spontaneous or interactive), talking with strangers as part of evangelism or parish visiting, and assuming a high profile within the parish. Anglican ministry in Wales and England alike is shaped by the quiet reflective spirituality characteristic of a preference for introversion.

In terms of attitude, all four studies demonstrate a clear preference for judging: in Wales 68% according to Francis, Payne et al. (2001) and 78% according to Francis, Littler et al. (2010), and in England 68% according to Francis, Craig, Whinney et al. (2007) and 73% according to Francis, Robbins et al. (2010). Clergy who prefer judging display distinctive strengths in ministry. They may be inspired by taking care of organisational matters, both in their own life and in the life of the parish, by arranging services and events well in advance, by maintaining efficient administrative systems, and by managing local affairs. On the other hand, clergy who prefer judging may be less able to cope with some other aspects of ministry, such as the need for thinking on their feet, responding effectively to unanticipated crises, and adapting to changing situations. Anglican ministry in Wales and England alike is shaped by clear organisation and structure characteristic of a preference for judging.

In terms of the judging process, all four studies demonstrate a clear preference for feeling: in Wales 69% according to Francis, Payne et al. (2001) and 55% according to Francis, Littler et al. (2010), and in England 54% according to Francis, Craig, Whinney et al. (2007) and 56% according to Francis, Robbins et al. (2010). Clergy who prefer feeling display distinctive strengths in ministry. They may be particularly good at spending time caring for others through visiting, counselling or pastoral care, supporting and empathising with those in need, and emphasising the importance of interpersonal values in Christian teaching, such as love, harmony, peace, and compassion. On the other hand, clergy who prefer feeling may be less equipped to deal with some other aspects of ministry, such as having to look at problems objectively and logically, the need to make tough decisions which affect other people’s lives, the need to be critical when necessary, and dealing with troublesome people. Anglican ministry in Wales and England alike is shaped by an emphasis on pastoral care and by a love for harmony inspired by allegiance to the God of mercy.

However, a very different picture emerges in terms of the perceiving process. The two studies conducted in Wales demonstrate a clear preference for sensing: 57% according to Francis, Payne et al. (2001) and 64% according to Francis, Littler et al. (2010). The two studies conducted in England demonstrate a clear preference for intuition: 62% according to Francis, Craig, Whinney et al. (2007) and 67% according to Francis, Robbins et al. (2010). Sensing types and intuitive types bring somewhat different strengths to ministry. With ministry leadership shaped by a predominance of intuitive types, the Church of England is a Church that may promote change and development in church structure, church order, liturgy, and teaching. The leadership may encourage an open, enquiring, and more liberal approach to faith. Within ministry leadership shaped by a predominance of sensing types, the Church in Wales is a Church that may be more reluctant to promote change and development in church structures, church order, liturgy, and teaching. The leadership may encourage a stronger commitment to tradition and a more conservative approach to faith and to liturgy. In terms of the perceiving process, the Anglican Churches in England and Wales may present a very different public face for ministry.

One of the key ways in which scientific knowledge is consolidated and tested is through replication. The aim of the present study, therefore, was to replicate the two studies reported earlier by Francis, Payne et al. (2001), and Francis, Littler et al. (2010) among a further sample of Anglican clergymen serving in the Church in Wales. In the analysis of these new data particular attention will be given to the preferences reported on the perceiving process in terms of sensing and intuition.

Method

Sample

Of the 268 clergymen who participated in the project, two were under the age of 30, 15 were in their 30s, 44 were in their 40s, 129 were in their 50s, 72 were in their 60s, five were in their 70s, and one did not disclose his age; 210 were married, 36 were single, 11 were divorced and not remarried, six were divorced and remarried, three were widowed, one was separated, and one did not disclose his marit...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Citation Information
• Notes on Contributors
• Introduction: psychological type, religion, and culture
• 1. Confirming the psychological type profile of Anglican churchmen in Wales: a ministry for sensing types
• 2. Psychological types and self-assessed leadership skills of clergy in the Church of England
• 3. Psychological type and the training relationship: an empirical study among curates and training incumbents
• 4. Early and late responders to questionnaires: clues from psychological type
• 5. Psychological type profile of Protestant church leaders in Australia: are clergymen and clergywomen different?
• 6. Psychological type profile of clergywomen and clergymen serving in the New York metropolitan area of the Reformed Church in America
• 7. Work-related psychological health and psychological type: a study among Catholic priests in Italy
• 8. Psychological type functions and biblical scholarship: an empirical enquiry among members of the Society of Biblical Literature
• 9. Psychological type differences between churchgoers and church-leavers
• 10. The psychological type profile of Christians participating in fellowship groups or in small study groups: insights from the Australian National Church Life Survey
• 11. Created to be guardians? Psychological type profiles of members of cathedral Friends associations in England
• 12. Unsettling the guardian: quest religiosity and psychological type among Anglican churchgoers
• 13. Inside Southwark Cathedral: a study in psychological-type profiling
• 14. Spiritual well-being and psychological type: a study among visitors to a medieval cathedral in Wales
• 15. The perceiving process and mystical orientation: a study in psychological type theory among 16- to 18-year-old students
• 16. The personality of the Fourth Evangelist
• 17. Do different psychological types look for different things in sermons? A research note
• Index