Personality and work place outcomes : a study of ministers of religion and christian teachers

![CDATA[This paper outlines a research program for exploring the various approaches towards the relationship between basic personality variables (level one) and middle level personality units (level two), and how they affect important behavioral and experiential work place outcomes for ministers of religion and Christian teachers. McCrae and Costa’s (1996, 1999; see also Costa & McCrae, 1994) theory claims that level one variables are stable and innate and that the interaction with the environment gives rise to middle level units, which do not influence basic personality variables and are unstable in relation to environmental changes. Others have claimed that the relationship between middle level units and basic traits is likely to be reciprocal in nature (Cloninger, Przybeck, & Avrakic, 1993; Marsh et al., 2006; McAdams & Pals, 2006). This paper outlines a program of study, consisting of a two wave longitudinal sample, to test the validity of competing theories as they apply to ministers of religion where longitudinal models are fitted in order to determine what pattern of relationships best represents the functioning of personality in the workplace. Given the role of Churches in the development of spiritual capital, the results of such research may have far reaching effects for local communities (Putman, 2000).]]