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Some Personality Effects of Long-Term Zen Monasticism and Religious Understanding
Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
Format: Journal Article
Publication Year: n.d.
Pages: 16; 304-316
Sources ID: 21492
Visibility: Private
Abstract: (Show)
The study evaluates the effects of 5 years of religious training on the personalities of 31 residents of a Zen Buddhist monastic seminary. The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory was administered to each subject each year. Comparison of results at Years 1 and 5 revealed predicted improvements, significant at the .05 level, in scales assessing ego strength and dependency and in two measures of general adjustment. A similar pattern of results was found across a time period of only one year in those subjects who experienced a major religious understanding. Comparison with similar studies conducted in Christian seminaries and religious orders suggests that specific elements of monastic life may influence personal adjustment.