Psychological Temperament, Spirituality, and Augustinian Prayer: An Empirical Enquiry

Francis, Leslie J.; Cook, Christopher C.H.; McKenna, Ursula

Abstract

Drawing on data provided by 207 Anglican and Methodist ministry training candidates, who completed the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and an 80-item battery of type-related prayer preference items, this study tested the thesis advanced by Michael and Norrisey that the Apollonian (NF) Temperament is associated with Augustinian prayer and spirituality. From the battery of eighty items, the analysis identified eleven items rated more highly by NF participants. These items produced a scale with a satisfactory alpha of.81 (offering internal consistency reliability). Consideration of these items alongside the secondary literature on Augustinian spirituality, and Augustine’s own account in his Confessions, showed that they mapped broadly onto the characteristics of Augustinian prayer and spirituality (offering content validity). These data support the hypothesized link between the Apollonian (NF) Temperament and Augustinian prayer and spirituality.

Citation

Francis, L. J., Cook, C. C., & McKenna, U. (online). Psychological Temperament, Spirituality, and Augustinian Prayer: An Empirical Enquiry. Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care, https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909241309304

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 5, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Jan 22, 2025
• Deposit Date: Feb 19, 2025
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 19, 2025
• Journal: Journal of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care
• Print ISSN: 1939-7909
• Electronic ISSN: 2328-1030
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/19397909241309304
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3490597