From: lfreeman@phad.hsc.usc.edu (Leny Freeman)
Newsgroups: alt.religion.scientology
Subject: journal article on scientology
Message-ID: <34425@usc.edu>
Date: 20 Jul 91 04:24:51 GMT
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     This is for those of you who are sincerly interested in finding out about
     Scientology.  I downloaded this abstract from the National Library of
     Medicine's MEDLINE database.  I hope it's legal to post this since it's
     copyrighted but I'm sick of reading all the ignorant misinformed flames
     which comprise most of the postings so far.

     BTW, I've been a scientologist for 18 years and it's been my observation
     that it works for me as well as many others.  Here it is.
---------cut here--------
                Psychological Abstracts (PsycINFO) 1984-Present
    Copyright 1990 American Psychological Association, all rights reserved.

       Title: Effects of membership in Scientology on personality: An
              exploratory study.
      Author: Ross-Michael-W.
     Address: Flinders U of South Australia, Medical School, Bedford Park,
              Australia
      Source: Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 1988 Dec Vol
              27(4) 630-636.
        Type: 10.  journal article
    Language: eng
Abstract No.: 8925706.
    Abstract: Administered a series of personality measures, including the
              Adjective Checklist, the Purpose in Life Test, and the Barron
              Ego-Strength Scale, to 48 members of Scientology (aged 16-72
              yrs).  Semantic differentials seeking responses on the S's
              situation prior to joining Scientology and demographic data
              were also administered.  Results of correlations (partialled
              for age) between personality measures and time in the
              movement suggest that there was a significant increase in
              social ease and in effectiveness of goal-directed behavior. 
              Data also indicate that members were unlikely to have been
              unhappy or unstable prior to joining.  Findings suggest that
              the negative aspects reported by some authors of membership
              in Scientology are not apparent in this sample and that there
              may be some benefits for long-term members.
  Key Phrase: long term involvement in Scientology, personality, 16-72 yr
              olds
 Descriptors: CULTURE-AND-ETHNOLOGY-AND-RELIGION.  RELIGIOUS-AFFILIATION. 
              PERSONALITY-CHANGE.  AGED.  ADOLESCENCE.  ADULTHOOD.
                        ***** End of Citation *****