Measurement of Philosophies of Human Nature

Abstract

Philosophies of human nature were conceptualized as possessing six bi-polar components: Trustworthiness, Altruism, Independence, Strength of Will and Rationality, Complexity, and Variability. Likert-type items were written to measure each component. After two item analyses, a final form of the scale, including 14 items on each of six subscales, was assembled. The subscales appear to have adequate internal consistency and strong consistency over time. As hypothesized, the first four components were intercorrelated to a modest degree, and these were independent of the last two components. Predictions relating the scale to sex differences, self-ideal discrepancies, religious differences, and evaluations of one's instructor were borne out.