A theological and empirical assessment of narcissism in theological students: A pilot study

This dissertation is a theological and empirical assessment of narcissism in theological students preparing for full time ministry. Chapter 1 introduces the concept of narcissism. Attention is also given to the essential empirical questions this pilot study attempts to address.; Chapter 2 contains a pastoral theological explication of narcissism. The fundamental Christian doctrines of Creation, Sin, and Redemption are involved in an articulation of mature narcissism. This chapter consists as well of psychological definition of Narcissism informed by the self psychology of Heniz Kohut, and the theoretical assumptions of the Millon Multiaxial Clinical Inventory and the Spiritual Assessment Inventory.; Chapter 3 presents the empirical methodology used in the pilot study. The pilot study's essential elements of criteria for inclusion of participants, the selection of institutions, the method of securing the sample group, the research protocol, and the consent agreement are all presented. The various statistical procedures for the pilot study are also included in this chapter.; Chapter 4 presents the empirical results regarding the presence of narcissism in the matched sample group according to the results indicated on two separate inventories the MCMI-III and the SAI.; Chapter 5 offers an assessment of the results that demonstrates a substantial degree of narcissism is present in the matched sample group as evaluated and understood by the MCMI-III and the SAI.; This pilot study confirms within the confines of its limited sample group that narcissism and grandiosity are significant personality characteristics represented within the profiles of this matched sample group. Finally, several significant questions are posed that are provoked as a consequence of the pilot study's results.