Relationship between self-esteem and the internalization of priestly vocational values among Vincentian theology students

• Main Author: Wisaksono, Vincent
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1991
• Subjects: Vocation (in religious orders; congregations; etc) > Psychology; etc)
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/1327
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study investigates the relationship between the level of self-esteem and the degree of internalization of priestly vocational values among the Vincentian Theology students in Metro-Manila. On the one hand, self-esteem as a psychological construct has been found as a determinant to a happy and successful life. This refers to a self-feeling, self-attitude that a person holds for himself that he is lovable, worthy and significant. On the other hand, the capacity to internalize priestly vocational values is the fulcrum of priestly vocational life. This serves as a determinant to perseverance and effectiveness of priestly vocational life. Therefore, it has been assumed that somehow these two variables may relate to one another and determine the happy, desirable, and effective priestly vocational life. This study involved 27 seminarians of St. Vincent School of Theology, Quezon City, Philippines and they were asked to become the respondents of some tests and questionnaires. The instruments used in this study were the Pasao's Self-Concept Scale (SCS) to draw out information of self-esteem Modified Activities Index (MAI) designed for assessment of conscious motivation of priestly vocation and Rotter's Incomplete Sentence Blank test for assessment of the subconscious motivation. The result of the study showed a positive and relatively high statistically significant relationship (r = .708, p .01) between these two variables. It can be concluded that the higher the level of self-esteem of a vocationer the higher the capacity (measured in degree) to internalize priestly vocational values and vice-versa. In other words, the lower the level of self-esteem the more difficult a candidate for priesthood to live up with priestly vocational values. The result may have some implications to the formation program in the seminary, since formative program are designed to promote a better understanding and living of priestly vocational values. Since a bulk of research and study has attributed the self-esteem as the product of early child development, this study suggests a looking into the family background of the candidates for priesthood in order to find out the traces of dysfunctional communication or interaction between the child and the parents that may block the effective functioning of the candidates for priesthood. A better understanding of this family background may contribute to finding solutions to the problems that hinder the development of the candidates for the priesthood to respond to God's call sincerely and maturely.