Comparing Qualitative and Quantitative Research Findings on Scrupulosity Among Hong Kong Catholics and Protestants

Abstract Scrupulosity refers to when a perception of sin where none exists. This notion has existed in the church tradition for a long time and was specifically mentioned by Ignatius of Loyola (1491–1556), founder of the Society of Jesus, in his famous work The Spiritual Exercises . In modern times, psychologists regard scrupulosity as a religious manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder. This article presents, compares, and analyses qualitative and quantitative research findings concerning scrupulosity among Protestants and Catholics in Hong Kong. The results show that the main causes of scrupulosity are perfectionism and a negative image of God, and that one of the key methods of transformation is to engage with spiritual tradition.