Women Priests in the Church of England: Psychological Type Profile

Leslie J Francis,Mandy Robbins,Michael Whinney

doi:10.3390/rel2030389

Leslie J Francis, Mandy Robbins + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/rel2030389

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Abstract

This study employed psychological type theory and measurement to explore the psychological profile of women priests ordained in the Church of England. A sample of 83 Anglican clergywomen in England completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). The data demonstrated clear preferences for introversion (63%) over extraversion (37%), for intuition (60%) over sensing (40%), for feeling (76%) over thinking (24%), and for judging (55%) over perceiving (45%). In terms of dominant types, 37% were dominant feelers, 31% dominant intuitives, 23% dominant sensers, and 8% dominant thinkers. These findings are discussed to illuminate the preferred ministry styles of Anglican clergywomen in England and to highlight the significant differences between the psychological type profile of clergywomen and the UK female population norms.

Highlights

Psychological type theory, as originally proposed by Jung [1] has been developed, extended and operationalised through a series of type indicators, temperament sorters and type scales, including theMyers-Brigg Type Indicator [2] the Keirsey Temperament Sorter [3], and the Francis PsychologicalType Scales [4]
The aim of the present study is to report on a replication of the study reported by Francis, Craig, Whinney, Tilley, and Slater [15] of clergywomen serving in the Church of
The population norms are not published in this table but employed as the data with which the clergywomen have been compared

Summary

Introduction

Psychological type theory, as originally proposed by Jung [1] has been developed, extended and operationalised through a series of type indicators, temperament sorters and type scales, including theMyers-Brigg Type Indicator [2] the Keirsey Temperament Sorter [3], and the Francis PsychologicalType Scales [4]. Extraversion and introversion are dichotomous orientations, that is, two different ways in which people focus their psychological energy Extraverts focus their energy on and gain energy from the outside world of people and things. Introverts focus their energy on and gain energy from their inner world of ideas and reflections They may feel drained by events and people around them and they prefer to reflect on a situation rather than to act on it. They enjoy solitude, silence, and contemplation, as they tend to focus their attention on what is happening in their inner life. They may appear reserved and detached as they are difficult to get to know, and they may prefer to have a small circle of intimate friends rather than many acquaintances

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