Ross 1988
Here is the abstract of a 1988 study into the effects of Scientology:
'Ross (1988) investigated the effects of Scientology membership with a
cross-sectional design, controlling for age, between length of time in
Scientology and scores on a number of personality measures. Ross found those who
had been in the movement longer had a significantly more favorable view of
themselves.
'Ross also found long-term members had increased their sense of duty and ability
to work conscientiously, increased their emphasis on organization and planning,
increased their attempts to understand their own behavior or the behavior of
others, increased their engagement in behaviors that provide material or
emotional benefit to others, and increased their seeking and maintaining of
personal friendships. Long-term members also decreased their solicitation of
sympathy, affection, or emotional support from others. The greatest increase was
in orientation toward duty and obligations. Significant correlations were also
found with preference for continuity and old values, sympathetic manner and
positive reaction for others, unpretentiousness and uncomplicated manner, and
analytic and self-disciplined approach.
'Ross (1988) found no support for Scientology being a negative influence on
personality, nor that entrants into Scientology are unusual with regard to their
previous history. Claims that membership in Scientology leads to ego
disintegration was not supported, with the scores of the participant’s ego
strength within the normal range. Results from the PIL (purpose in life) scale,
which measures the extent to which individuals have a clear purpose in life,
indicated that Scientologists scored significantly higher than members of
conventional religious denominations or committed Christians did.'
Ross, M. W. (1988). Effects of membership
in Scientology on personality: An
exploratory study. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 27,
630-636.
I have a copy of the original article. If you have any questions about it please
e-mail me.
