Personality Characteristics of Evangelical Missionaries as Measured by the MMPI

Abstract

Profiles of 827 evangelical missionaries were analyzed with t tests and ANOVAs for differences between the means of the missionary sample and the norm and between the means of persevering and nonpersevering missionaries. Sex, age, educational level, and year in which the MMPI was taken were also considered as independent variables. The results of the comparison between the means of the missionary sample and the norm were significant on all of the MMPI subscales. The mean differences between persevering and non-persevering missionaries were significant on subscales L, F, Pt, and Cn. The statistical results suggested that the missionaries presented themselves in the most favorable light, were emotionally stable, and strong leaders. They tended to be visionary people who struggled against the difficulties they encountered in the field.