Personality Adjustment of Minor Seminarians and of Catholic High School Seniors

Reviewing the use of psychological assessment tools in the screening and admission process of candidates to the catholic priesthood or religious life.

“…A study evaluated and compared major seminarians with a group of priests (Sunardi, 2014) and a study assessed both minor and major seminarians (Cahyono & Julom, 2015). Only seven studies included a control group composed of lay people (Callahan, 1968; Galea, 2010; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Mahalik & Lagan, 2001; Palomo, 1966; Prusak et al, 2021; Thurackal et al, 2016). Twelve studies assessed candidates to religious orders or novices (Banks et al, 1984; Ifeacho et al, 2015; Kimmons, 2002; Okozi, 2010; Kuchan et al, 2013; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Palomo, 1966; Plante et al, 2005; Prusak et al, 2021; Rulla & Maddi, 1972; Shainauskas, 1976; Weisgerber, 1969), three of which compared religious with diocesan seminarians (Okozi, 2010; Prusak et al, 2021; Rulla & Maddi, 1972).…”

“…Only seven studies included a control group composed of lay people (Callahan, 1968; Galea, 2010; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Mahalik & Lagan, 2001; Palomo, 1966; Prusak et al, 2021; Thurackal et al, 2016). Twelve studies assessed candidates to religious orders or novices (Banks et al, 1984; Ifeacho et al, 2015; Kimmons, 2002; Okozi, 2010; Kuchan et al, 2013; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Palomo, 1966; Plante et al, 2005; Prusak et al, 2021; Rulla & Maddi, 1972; Shainauskas, 1976; Weisgerber, 1969), three of which compared religious with diocesan seminarians (Okozi, 2010; Prusak et al, 2021; Rulla & Maddi, 1972). Only three studies assessed female candidates to Catholic religious orders (Ifeacho et al, 2015; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Shainauskas, 1976).…”

“…Only three studies assessed female candidates to Catholic religious orders (Ifeacho et al, 2015; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; Shainauskas, 1976). All participants recruited were aged ≥18 years, except for eight studies (Cahyono & Julom, 2015; Healy, 1968; McLaughlin, 1969; O’Neill, 1971; Palomo, 1966; Shainauskas, 1976; Sheridan, 1968; Vaughan, 1970) that included minor seminarians…”

“…Different instruments that have been used for the psychological screening of candidates for the diaconate, priesthood or religious life and the most important results from the studies related to their application to this population, were analyzed. Except eight studies that used projective tests (Banks et al, 1984; Bartsch & Dawson, 1979; Gamino et al, 2007; Maddi & Rulla, 1972; McLaughlin, 1969; Rulla & Maddi, 1972; Sheridan, 1968; Palomo, 1966), all other research used objective tests or scales. The instrument more frequently adopted (46% of all studies) is the MMPI in its various versions: MMPI (Banks et al, 1984; Healy, 1968; Kimmons, 2002; Kuchan et al, 2013; Murray & Connolly, 1966; Pino, 1980; Vaughan, 1970; Weisgerber, 1969); MMPI-K scale (Sunardi, 2014); MMPI-2 (Gamino et al, 2007; Ifeacho et al, 2015; Isacco, Finn, et al, 2020; Kimmons, 2002; Kuchan et al, 2013; Plante et al, 1996, 2005; Plante & Lackey, 2007; Thomas & Plante, 2015); Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF; Ingram et al, 2021; Isacco, Finn, et al, 2020; Isacco, Ingram, et al, 2020); followed by the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (16PF; Campagna & O’Toole, 1981; Isacco, Ingram, et al, 2020; Plante et al, 1996, 2005; Plante & Lackey, 2007; Shainauskas, 1976) and Big Five Personality tests (Francis & Crea, 2019; Galea, 2010; Kosek, 2000; Sunardi, 2014; Thurackal et al, 2016).…”

“…It takes about 15–35 min to complete. Palomo (1966) comparing minor seminarians with high school students, observed variations that can indicate the potentiality of the SSCT as sensitive tool to tap small personality and attitudinal differences below the level of pathology between the groups. Moreover, in this study, the family profiles of the seminarians showed them as better adjusted than the corresponding high school students in the family area.…”