Traditional Family Ideology Scale (TFIS) – Muthayya

Abstract

The Traditional Family Ideology Scale (TFIS), developed by B. C. Muthayya in 1967, is a psychometric instrument designed to measure an individual’s adherence to traditional, conservative, and often patriarchal views concerning family structure, gender roles, marital dynamics, and child-rearing practices. This psychological scale assesses attitudes reflecting hierarchy, obedience to elders, and strict moral standards, particularly focusing on the subjugation of women and the preservation of caste and ancestral traditions within the family unit. The scale is particularly relevant for research examining the interplay between traditionalism and psychological variables such as achievement motive and autocratic attitudes.

Keywords

Traditionalism, Family Ideology, Gender Roles, Patriarchy, Social Attitudes, Authoritarianism, Conservatism, Marital Dynamics, Psychological Scale, B. C. Muthayya.

Authors

B. C. Muthayya.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the TFIS is to quantitatively assess the degree to which an individual holds traditional beliefs about family life. These beliefs encompass expectations regarding the distribution of power, the role of women, norms surrounding premarital and extramarital behavior, and the importance of ancestral adherence in decision-making. The instrument serves as a tool for researchers to categorize subjects based on their level of traditionalism, allowing for subsequent correlation studies with behavioral and personality traits.

Specifically, the scale items target dimensions related to male dominance, female submission, control over children’s socialization and sexuality, and the sanctity of marriage as a religious or traditional institution. Muthayya utilized this measure to study the correlation between traditional family ideology and other psychological constructs, such as autocratic-democratic attitudes and achievement motivation, often within the context of Indian society.

Construct

The Traditional Family Ideology construct, as operationalized by Muthayya, is multifaceted, encompassing several key dimensions of conservatism and hierarchy within the domestic sphere. A high score on the scale signifies a preference for rigid, hierarchical, and non-egalitarian norms, reflecting a traditional or conservative worldview regarding the family institution. The measured construct includes:

• Patriarchal Authority: The belief that the husband or father must possess ultimate decision-making power in family matters, overriding the opinions of the wife and children.
• Gender Segregation and Inequality: Rigid adherence to distinct, unequal roles for men (associated with ambition, intelligence, and the public sphere) and women (associated with domestic duties, submission, and emotionality).
• Sexual and Moral Conservatism: Strict adherence to conventional morality, especially concerning sexuality, and harsh judgment toward individuals (particularly women) who deviate from these norms.
• Filial and Ancestral Obedience: The requirement that children must implicitly obey their parents and that family decisions must be guided by the traditions of ancestors rather than individual choice.

Validity

Specific empirical data regarding the construct validity (e.g., convergent or divergent validity) of the Traditional Family Ideology Scale are not detailed in the provided references. However, based on the transparent nature and scope of the 40 items, the scale demonstrates strong content validity. The statements clearly and comprehensively cover the domain of traditional family norms, focusing heavily on patriarchal and restrictive social attitudes reflective of the societal context in which the scale was developed.

Reliability

The provided source material does not include specific metrics for the scale’s reliability, such as internal consistency (e.g., Cronbach’s Alpha) or test-retest stability. Researchers utilizing the TFIS should consult Muthayya’s original 1967 works or subsequent studies that have employed the scale across different cultural contexts to obtain relevant psychometric documentation regarding its stability and consistency.

Factor Analysis

Information regarding the specific factor analysis structure (e.g., the number of underlying dimensions or factors) of the 40 items of the TFIS is not provided in the summary documentation. Due to the broad range of topics covered—from gender roles and marital authority to child obedience and caste superiority—the scale is conceptually multi-dimensional. However, it is typically employed in research as a single, summative score reflecting overall traditional family ideology.

Instrument

Test Type: Attitude Self-Report Psychological Scale.

Format: 40 items presented as declarative statements, utilizing a 5-point Likert scale response format.

Language Available: Original development likely in English, though subsequent use often involves translations into regional Indian languages.

Population Group: General adult population, typically used in academic and psychological research, initially focused on Indian samples.

Age Group: Adults (college students and older community members).

Population Details: Used to measure traditionalism among populations experiencing modernization and social change, often contrasting traditional viewpoints with emerging democratic or egalitarian attitudes.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each statement using the following response options: 1= Strongly Disagree, 2= Moderately disagree, 3= Neutral, 4= Moderately agree, 5= Strongly agree. Item responses are summed to yield a total score, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to traditional family ideology.

Keywords

Psychometrics, Attitude Measurement, Conservatism, Marital Roles, Family Ideology, Social Norms, Patriarchal Authority.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Information unavailable).

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A (Information unavailable).

Correspondence Address: Agra Psychological Research Cell, Tiwari Kothl, Belanganj, Agra-282004.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Traditional Family Ideology Scale was developed and published in 1967. Permission details and associated fees must be sought directly from the publisher, Agra Psychological Research Cell. The instrument is often cited in academic research on social attitudes.

The original PDF containing the instrument details is available for academic reference. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/169166/16/16_backmatter.pdf

Reference’s

• Muthayya, B. C. (1967). Autocratic-democratic attitudes and achievement motive. Journal of Psychological Researches, 11(1), 32-35.
• Muthayya, B. C. (1967). Traditional Family Ideology Scale. Agra Psychological Research Cell, Tiwari Kothl, Belanganj, Agra-282004.

Items of the Traditional Family Ideology Scale (TFIS) – Muthayya

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. In bringing up their children‚ parents must follow the traditions of their ancestors rather than follow their (parents) personal opinions.
2. If the children are told much about sex‚ they are likely to go too far in experimenting with it.
3. Some equality in marriage is a good thing but by and large the husband should have the final decisions‚ in family matters.
4. Woman who does not care to be submissive to her husband during married life‚ has not understood the meaning and duties of a wife.
5. Parents in providing comforts to their children‚ male children must be considered first and then female children.
6. A woman who engages herself in social activities cannot be expected to become a good wife.
7. It is better for a wife to vote for whatever her husband does because he knows more about such things.
8. A youth should not marry a girl whom he loves‚ if his father objects to it.
9. The unmarried mother is morally a greater failure than the unmarried father.
10. It is the man rather than the women who should take part in outdoor sports and women should confine themselves to indoor games.
11. Women should not be more intelligent for their own good.
12. It is a disgrace to his manliness for a man who can’t go ahead in the world.
13. One of the worst problems in our society to*day would be “The introduction of divorce” because it mars the true value of marriage since marriage is something sacred.
14. Even today women live under unfair restrictions that should be removed immediately.
15. It does not seem quite right for a man to be visionary‚ dreaming should be left to women.
16. We will have to be very strickt towards young people to save our moral standards as the facts on crime and sexual immorality are more.
17. One must marry a woman who is less educated than himself‚ otherwise she will boss over him.
18. A wife has no right to question her husband about where he goes or why he came home late.
19. The future of the child must be planned by the father‚ and mother should not have any say in it.
20. She is the ideal wife who never disagrees with her husband in family matters.
21. It is the duty of the wife to serve food to her husband and children first and serve herself the remaining food in the last.
22. Parents should see that their children should mix with only those whom they approve.
23. Women have as much right as men to lead a reckless life.
24. Talking with a boy in privacy is something a-nice girl would not want to do.
25. Woman should not participate in men’s talks and keep herself confined to her homework (domestic).
26. A man can scarcely maintain respect for his girl‚ whom he is to marry‚ (fiance) if they have sexual relations before they are married.
27. In order to have a control over wives‚ men should be reserved in their expressions of love and affection towards their wives.
28. It is wise for men‚ not to take their wives to certain foreign movies; otherwise they learn many % ices from such pictures.
29. Women think less clearly than men and are more emotional.
30. Women should take active interest in politics and community problems as well as in their families.
31. One must consider the family as a sacred institution bestowed by God and must conform to the traditions of his family.
32. Smoking before elders should be discouraged as it indicates disrespectful attitude towards them.
33. It is right for each person to think that his family and caste are superior to any others.
34. The most important qualities of a real man are strength of will‚ assertiveness and driving ambition.
35. It goes against nature to place woman in position of authority over men.
36. Women should not compete with men in business and professional work to display their superiority.
37. Boys rather than girls should be taughrito.be self-assertive and autonomous in their behaviour.
38. Woman should not be allowed to remarry‚ if her husband dies‚ as it brings down the valued womanhood.
39. No marriage should be conducted unless the couple is prepared to have children.
40. A good child is one who implicity obeys his parents and does not criticize their mistakes.