Catholic priesthood and psychological temperament: a replication among priests in Italy

ABSTRACT

This study draws on psychological temperament theory (a development from psychological type theory) to map the characteristics of 105 Catholic priests serving in Italy, who completed the Francis Psychological Type Scales. The data demonstrated a strong preference for the SJ Epimethean Temperament (70.5%), with low representation for the other three temperaments: SP Dionysian Temperament (10.5%), NT Promethean Temperament (10.5%), and NF Apollonian Temperment (8.6%). In their study of religious leadership, Oswald and Kroeger characterised Epimethean priests as “conserving, serving” pastors.

KEYWORDS:

• Catholic Church
• Italy
• priests
• psychology of religion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).