The personality patterns of Diocesan seminarians in comparison with the Catholic university students, and graduate teacher trainees in Penang, Malaysia

This study compares the personality traits of Diocesan Major seminarians in Penang and Catholic undergraduates and graduate teacher trainees in Penang, Malaysia. More specifically, it was an attempt to see whether the seminarians who although did not qualify for university education in the country, were nevertheless comparable to their secular counterparts on personality traits. The study utilized the comparative descriptive research design and used the 16 PF, Personality Inventory of Cattell as its instrument. The hypotheses were stated in the form of the researcher\u27s expectations which were: 1) The seminarians as a whole when compared to the combined group of Catholic undergraduates and graduate teacher trainees on the 16 PF Personality Traits, would not differ on these traits, except be less assertive, enthusiastic, radical, and casual. 2) The philosophy seminarians compared to the Catholic male undergraduates on the 16 PF personality traits would not differ on these traits except less intelligent, assertive, enthusiastic and imaginative. 3) The theology seminarians in comparison with the graduate teacher trainees of MTC would not differ in these traits except be less radical, controlled and outgoing. The results of the study imply that on most of the personality traits as measured by the 16 PF, the seminarians are not significantly different from their secular counterparts, except on Factor A, Radical, and on Factor Q3, Controlled. There is a significant difference at .01 level and at .05 level, respectively. Thus, the seminarians as a whole are less radical and more controlled than their secular counterparts. Based on the findings, it can be said that on most personality traits Malaysian seminarians are not inferior to their lay counterparts. On certain traits which are more suited to the priestly profession like conscientious, controlled, conservative and imaginative, they are better endowed