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Evidence Bearing on Use of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to Select Persons for Advanced Religious Training: A Preliminary Report

Author(s):
Saunders, David R.
Publication Year:
1957
Report Number:
RB-57-08
Source:
ETS Research Bulletin
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
20
Subject/Key Words:
Clergy, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Occupational Tests, Personality Measures, Political Attitudes, Theological Education

Abstract

Evidence is presented that tends to support three hypotheses connecting the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to the field of advanced religious training. These hypotheses are: 1. Persons whose type is ESFJ or ENFJ are more interested in becoming ministers, et al, than are members of other types. 2. Persons whose type is ENFJ are relatively more interested in becoming ministers in liberal denominations, and persons whose type is ESFJ are relatively more interested in becoming ministers in conservative denominations. 3. In the case of liberal denominations, persons whose type is ENFJ are relatively prone to remain actively in the role of parish-level religious leader. This is regarded as implying the possession by ENFJ of an inherently superior pattern of aptitude and personality development for this particular role. (The parallel hypothesis for ESFJ has not been testes.) It is concluded that additional data on ministers should be obtained, in which the Myers-Briggs is used.

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