| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Description | The Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale (Wrightsman, 1964) is a Likert-type instrument consisting of 84 items designed to assess a person’s expectancies about human behavior and its underlying motive forces. Initially, 120 items were written to measure six philosophies of human nature: trustworthiness, altruism, independence, will and rationality, human complexity, and human variability. The scale was revised through two item analyses, resulting in 14 items for each subscale. The subscales show adequate internal consistency and strong consistency over time. These subscales measure different aspects of human nature, including trustworthiness, unselfishness, independence, and complexity. |
| Alternate Test Names | None |
| Acronyms | None |
| Test Type | Original |
| Instrument Type | Rating Scale |
| Construct | Expectancies of Human Behavior |
| Purpose | The Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale assesses a person’s expectancies about human behavior and its underlying motive forces. |
| Source Used | Wrightsman, L. S., Jr. (1964). Measurement of philosophies of human nature. Psychological Reports, 14(3), 743–751. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1964.14.3.743 |
| Author | Wrightsman Jr., Lawrence S. |
| Test Year | 1964 |
| Commercial | No |
| Fee | No |
| Language Present | English |
| Language Available | English |
| Format | Each statement is responded to on a 6-point scale of agreement and disagreement. |
| Test Items Available | No (contact the author or publisher for obtaining items) |
| Number of items | 84 |
| Reliability | The split-half reliability coefficients for the male and female undergraduate samples are above .60, with 9 of the 12 above .70. For graduate students, reliability coefficients range from .40 to .78, due to the homogeneity of their attitudes. Test-retest reliability coefficients for subscales range from .34 to .90, indicating good stability over time. |
| Validity | Validity was demonstrated through significant correlations with self-concept dissatisfaction, political cynicism, and Machiavellianism. Negative correlations between the PHN Scale and these measures indicate that those who are cynical about human nature have a more negative view of human behavior. Positive correlations between the Faith-in-People Scale and PHN subscales indicate a more optimistic view of human nature. |
| Factor Analysis | No factor analysis indicated. |
| Test Methodology | Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Split-Half Reliability; Test-Retest Reliability |
| Classification | 5300 Attitudes, Interests, Values, and Expectancies |
| Age Group | Adulthood (18 years & older) |
| Population Group | Human; Male; Female |
| Population Details | Sample: Undergraduate and Graduate Students |
| Keywords | Altruism; Complexity; Independence; Strength of Will and Rationality; Test Development; Test Reliability; Test Validity; Trustworthiness; Variability; Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale |
| Index Terms | Human Nature; Independence (Personality); Rationality; Test Construction; Test Reliability; Test Validity; Trust (Social Behavior) |
Cite this article
Mohammed looti (2026). Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/wrightsman-philosophy-of-human-nature-scale/
Mohammed looti. "Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 4 Apr. 2026, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/wrightsman-philosophy-of-human-nature-scale/.
Mohammed looti. "Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2026. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/wrightsman-philosophy-of-human-nature-scale/.
Mohammed looti (2026) 'Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/s/wrightsman-philosophy-of-human-nature-scale/.
[1] Mohammed looti, "Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, April, 2026.
Mohammed looti. Wrightsman Philosophy of Human Nature Scale. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2026;vol(issue):pages.