Components of Pacifism

Abstract

From the philosophical and social science literature on pacifism, four components were derived as characterizing the pacifist: physical nonviolence, psychological non-violence, active value orientation, and internal locus of control. Scales to measure attitudes toward these components were developed and validated. Each scale evinced a strong level of internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the four components are distinct but related and that each scale is a satisfactory indicator of its intended component. The usefulness of the scales in future research on pacifism is discussed.