Graduate Program

Clinical Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Anu Sharma

Thesis Committee Member

Joseph Williams

Thesis Committee Member

Keith Wilson

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between religion, religiosity, archetypal roles and self-esteem. The sample consisted of 61 students at a Midwestern university. The participants completed a series of surveys including two measures of religiosity, a self-esteem measure, and a Female Archetype Scale. The findings indicated that religions differ on levels of religiosity and female archetypes. In addition, there were correlations between religiosity and archetype, and self-esteem and religiosity. The significant correlations for the feminine archetypes were that were that Sekhmet was positively correlated with intrinsic religiosity, and negatively correlated with extrinsic religiosity and Connectedness; Demeter was negatively correlated with Universality, Prayer Fulfillment and Spirituality subscales; Aphrodite was negatively correlated with Universality and Connectedness; and Athena was positively correlated with Religious Crisis and Connectedness. Self Esteem ratings were positively correlated with the religiosity subscale of Religious Crisis, and inversely correlated with the Universality, Prayer Fulfillment and Spirituality Subscales. Also of importance is the finding that the Aphrodite, Demeter and Artemis archetype scales were reliable, because the measure had no previous psychometric testing. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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