Psychological type and reported religious experience: an empirical enquiry among Anglican clergy and laity

2019

J. Empir. Theol.

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Liberalism and conservatism have been important stances that have shaped doctrinal, moral and ecclesial beliefs and practices in Christianity. In the Church of England, Anglo-catholics are generally more liberal, and evangelicals more conservative, than those from broad-church congregations. This paper tests the idea that psychological preference may also partly explain liberalism or conservatism in the Church of England. Data from 1,389 clergy, collected as part of the 2013 Church Growth Research Programme, were used to categorise individuals by church tradition (Anglo-catholic, broad church or evangelical), whether or not they had an Epimethean psychological temperament, and whether or not they preferred thinking over feeling in their psychological judging process. Epimetheans and those who preferred thinking were more likely to rate themselves as conservative rather than liberal. Conservatism was associated with being Epimethean among those who were Anglo-catholic or broad-church, but with preference for thinking over feeling among evangelicals.

Section: Psychological Type and Faith Expressionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Liberalism and Conservatism in Relation to Psychological Type among Church of England Clergy

2019

J. Empir. Theol.

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“…The Francis Psychological Type Scales (FPTS) were created primarily in order to operationalize psychological type constructs in research (Francis, 2005). Since its release it has been widely used in questionnaire surveys, especially among religious groups (for examples see, Francis, Clymo, & Robbins, 2014;Francis, Craig, Horsfall, & Ross, 2005;Francis, Robbins, & Wulff, 2011;Francis & Village, 2017;Francis, Village, & Powell, 2019;Village, 2014Village, , 2015. The instrument consists of 10 binarychoice items related to each of the four dimensions of the psychological type models proposed by Katharine Briggs and Isabel Myers (Myers, McCaulley, Quenk, & Hammer, 1998;Myers & Myers, 1980).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Testing the factor structure of the Francis Psychological Type Scales (FPTS): a replication among Church of England clergy and laity

Mental Health, Religion & Culture

2020

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“…Individual preferences for different psychological functions have been shown to relate to a wide range of faith expressions, including affiliation with particular types of churches (Francis 2002a;Francis et al 2007;Francis, Clymo, and Robbins 2014;Francis et al 2005;Francis and Robbins 2012;Francis, Robbins, and Craig 2011;Village 2013Village , 2015b and particular theological stances or beliefs (Francis 2002b;Francis and Village 2017;Village and Francis 2005). Two dimensions of the type model are particularly relevant for this study: perceiving (sensing versus intuition) and judging (feeling versus thinking).…”

Section: Individual Differencesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological and Theological Predictors of Environmental Attitudes among a Sample of UK Churchgoers

2020

J. Empir. Theol.

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This paper builds on previous studies of UK churchgoers by examining the factors that predict concern for the environment and willingness to make sacrifices to preserve it. A sample of 825 churchgoers from a range of denominations completed a questionnaire that contained items used to assess psychological preferences, biblical literalism, and a range of theological stances toward creation. Psychological variables showed both direct and indirect effects on environmentalism that were in line with previous work by environmental psychologists. Indirect effects were related to the way that some psychological type preferences either shape biblical interpretation or are associated with religious conservatism. Religious affiliation had no direct effects on environmentalism, but did have indirect effects through literalism and religious conservatism. Beliefs about dominion and eschatology directly reduced concern, but dominion was also positively associated with stewardship, which emerged as the main promoter of both concern and sacrifice.