Scale Overview
The People in General Scale – PIGS was developed by Thomas J. Banta (1961). It is designed to measure Misanthropy and Cynicism. 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), 2 = – (Disagree), 3 = 0 (Undecided / Neutral), 4 = + (Agree), 5 = ++ (Strongly Agree).
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 – 46
- Moderate Cynicism: 47 – 73
- High Cynicism (Misanthropic view of humanity): 74 – 100
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.