Factors Related to Clergy Sexual Misconduct
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Andrews University Digital Commons @ Andrews University Dissertations Graduate Research 1996 Factors Related to Clergy Sexual Misconduct Donald L. Totten Andrews University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations Part of the Ethics in Religion Commons Recommended Citation Totten, Donald L., "Factors Related to Clergy Sexual Misconduct" (1996). Dissertations. 737. https://digitalcommons.andrews.edu/dissertations/737 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Research at Digital Commons @ Andrews University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Andrews University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Thank you for your interest in the Andrews University Digital Library of Dissertations and Theses. 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Andrews University School of Education FACTORS RELATED TO CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Donald L. Totten M a y 1996 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI N um ber: 9 6 3 8 0 6 7 Copyright 1996 by Totten, Donald Leo All rights reserved. UMI Microform 9638067 Copyright 1996, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Copyright by Donald L. Totten 1996 All Rights Reserved Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. FACTORS RELATED TO CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT A dissertation presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy by Donald L. Totten APPROVAL BY THE COMMITTEE: Chair: J^trany Kijai------- Prog: Directo: Member: /Lynn Millar Dean, School of Education Member: Alfonso Valenzuela Member: Nancy Carbonell Date approvedC/ Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT FACTORS RELATED TO CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT b y Donald L . Totten Chair: Jimmy Kijai Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University School of Education Title : FACTORS RELATED TO CLERGY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Name of researcher: Donald L. Totten Name and degree of faculty chair: Jimmy Kijai, Ph.D. Date con^leted: May 1996 Problem Clergy sexual misconduct creates credibility, marital, family, and financial problems in the general church. The purpose of this study was to determine, through a survey research methodology, personality and situational factors in the lives of active clergy that may be related to clergy sexual misconduct. Method Two hundred sixty-nine pastors filled out questionnaires pertaining to spiritual well-being, locus of control, burnout, social support, active pre-marital sexual conduct, erotic thoughts, naivete/lack of training, demographics, and sexual involvement with a non-spouse while in the ministry. Univariate, discriminant, and Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. multiple regression analysis were used to analyze the influence of each variable on the incidence of sexual misconduct. Results Four significant factors predicted 14% of the variance of clergy sexual misconduct. The factors were: greater involvement in pre-marital sexual conduct, greater age, negative feelings of religious spiritual well-being, and perception of a lack of social support. Conclusions There are some factors that seem to influence a pastor's decision to become involved in sexual misconduct. The predictors are not definitive, however, and care must be taken not to draw definite conclusions from positive responses to the significant factors. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. To my wife, Joan, who spent many hours editing and encouraging 111 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS........................................... viii LIST OF TABLES .................................................. viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS........................................... X Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION .............................................. 1 Rationale for the Study ................................ 2 Statement of the Problem............................... 5 Theoretical Framework.................................. 6 The Significauice of the Study .......................... 8 Delimitations and Limitations.......................... 11 Delimitations ....................................... 11 Limitations ......................................... 11 Definition of Terms .................................... 12 Organization of the Dissertation....................... 14 2. THE REVIEW O F LITERA T U R E .................................. 16 Determining a Model for Clergy Sexual Misconduct....... 16 Two Factor Models ...................................... 19 Multi-Factor Models .................................... 20 Ecosystemic Nature of the Problem ...................... 22 Constellations of Contributing Factors................. 23 Microsystem ......................................... 23 Demographics and Professional Issues............. 23 Locus of Control ................................. 24 Shame/Guilt ...................................... 25 Self-esteem ...................................... 25 N a i v e t e .......................................... 26 S t y l e ............................................ 27 T o u c h ............................................ 29 D u r a t i o n ......................................... 30 Transference ..................................... 30 Self-disclosure.................................. 32 Perceiving Personal Needs as Greater Than God's Laws ............................... 34 Sexual activity as Forbidden Fruit ............... 35 F a n t a s y .......................................... 36 E n v y ............................................. 37 But We Are in Love ............................... 38 T r a i n i n g ......................................... 39 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Supervision ........................................ 40 Verbal Sex and Innuendo .......................... 41 Lack of Awareness of Damage to the Counselee 41 Loneliness.......................................... 42 Nurture............................................. 43 P a t h o l o g y .......................................... 46 Mood disorders ................................... 48 Personality disorders ............................ 48 Sexual disorders ................................ 50 A t t i t u d e ......................................... 52 Sexual abuse as normal behavior ................. 52 Abuse as an attempt at mastery ................... 53 A n g e r ............................................ 54 A d d i c t i o n ....................................... 56 Alcohol.......................................... 58 Counselee's problems that are sexually arousing............................. 58 The v i c t i m ...................................... 59 Vulnerability and clergy response ............... 61 Homeostasis ..................................... 62