Scale Overview
The People in General Scale – PIGS was developed by T.J. Banta (1961). It is designed to measure Cynicism and Misanthropy. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 20 items.
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly Disagree (–) / Very Non-Exploitative, 2 = Disagree (-), 3 = Neutral / Undecided (0 / ?), 4 = Agree (+), 5 = Strongly Agree (++) / Very Exploitative.
The scale includes 7 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 20 to 100. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Cynicism (Positive/Trusting View of Humanity): 20 – 45
- Moderate Cynicism (Balanced View of Humanity): 46 – 74
- High Cynicism (Misanthropic/Exploitative View of Humanity): 75 – 100
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.