Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS)

Abstract

The Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS), developed by Çimşir, Şahin, & Akdoğan (2024), is a seven-item psychological instrument designed to quantify the degree to which individuals prioritize human interests and well-being above the environment and other non-human living entities. The scale operationalizes the construct of anthropocentric narcissism, which conceptually overlaps with traditional narcissistic personality traits and rigid, human-centered environmental attitudes.

The development process involved an initial pool of 15 items, derived from theoretical and operational definitions, which were refined through expert analysis and pilot testing. The resulting final 7-item version was validated using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on a sample of adults in Turkey, demonstrating strong psychometric properties suitable for environmental and personality research.

Keywords

Anthropocentric Narcissism, Human Superiority, Environmental Attitudes, Rating Scale, Psychometrics, Face Validity

Authors

Çimşir, Elif; Şahin, Murat Doğan; Akdoğan, Ramazan

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS) is to provide a standardized, psychometrically sound measure for assessing the latent psychological construct of anthropocentric narcissism in adult populations. This measurement allows researchers to quantify the extent of an individual’s belief in the inherent superiority and entitlement of humanity relative to the natural world.

By accurately measuring this construct, the ANS facilitates research into the relationships between human-centric worldviews, environmental behaviors, psychological well-being (such as eco-anxiety), and other relevant personality factors.

Construct

The ANS measures Anthropocentric Narcissism, defined as a cognitive and behavioral pattern characterized by an exaggerated belief in the central importance, dominance, and inherent superiority of the human species over all other life forms and ecological systems. This construct implies an entitlement to exploit or manage the environment exclusively for human benefit, often disregarding ecological balance or the intrinsic value of non-human life.

The theoretical foundation of the ANS draws parallels between this specific environmental attitude and established narcissistic personality traits, suggesting that an inflated sense of self (humanity in this context) leads to exploitative or dominant attitudes toward external entities (nature).

Validity

The initial validation efforts for the ANS focused heavily on establishing content and face validity. The scale’s development commenced with an initial item pool of 15 statements, derived from existing theoretical definitions of anthropocentric attitudes and narcissistic personality traits (e.g., Crowe et al., 2019; Dunlap et al., 2000).

Expert item analysis was conducted, leading to the retention of 12 items deemed most representative of the construct. Following a pilot study, minor structural and linguistic adjustments were made to two items based on respondent feedback, ensuring clarity and appropriateness for the target population.

Reliability

The reliability of the seven-item Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale was assessed primarily through measures of internal consistency on the validation sample. The findings indicated high reliability for the instrument.

Specifically, the calculated value for Cronbach’s alpha was found to be 0.82, which exceeds the generally accepted threshold for robust psychological scales. Furthermore, the Composite Reliability (CR) index was reported at 0.84, reinforcing the conclusion that the items consistently measure the underlying single factor of anthropocentric narcissism.

Factor Analysis

The factor structure of the ANS was confirmed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) on the validation sample. The analysis supported a unidimensional structure, aligning with the theoretical conceptualization of anthropocentric narcissism as a single construct.

The final seven-item solution yielded a strong statistical outcome, characterized by an eigenvalue of 3.40. This single factor successfully accounted for a substantial portion of the total variance observed in the scale items, specifically explaining 48.72% of the variance.

Instrument

Test Type: Rating Scale; Psychometric Instrument

Format: Respondents rate their level of agreement with each statement using a 7-point Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 (Strongly disagree) to 7 (Strongly agree).

Language Available: English (Validated via Turkish version translation study)

Population Group: Human; Male; Female

Age Group: Adults (Aged 18 to 65 Years Old)

Population Details: Validation sample consisted of adults in Turkey.

Test Methodology: Test Validity; Test Reliability; Internal Consistency; Factor Analysis; Exploratory Factor Analysis

Keywords

Anthropocentric Narcissism, Human Superiority, Environmental Psychology, Rating Scale, Cronbach’s Alpha, EFA

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Çimşir, Elif: ORCID

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Çimşir, Elif: Anadolu University, Faculty of Education, Department of Guidance & Counseling, Eskişehir, Turkey

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS) was developed and published in 2024. The instrument is designated as non-commercial, meaning there is currently no associated fee required for its use in academic or research settings.

Reference’s

• Çimşir, E., Şahin, M. D., Akdoğan, R. (2024). Unveiling the relationships between eco-anxiety, psychological symptoms, and anthropocentric narcissism: The psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Hogg Eco-Anxiety Scale. Global Mental Health, 11, Article e26. https://doi.org/10.1017/gmh.2024.20

Items of the Anthropocentric Narcissism Scale (ANS)

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

1. Compared to other living beings, we, humans, are the most valuable creatures in nature.

2. Compared to other living beings, I think we humans have more rights over nature.

3. I believe all other things (both living and non-living) in nature exist for our (humans’) well-being.

4. As humans, I believe that we should dominate nature and other living things rather than adapt to them.

5. I see us, humans, as the natural rulers/leaders of nature and other living beings.

6. The importance of other living things and natural resources can be measured by the benefits they provide to humans.

7. I believe that the world is a place that belongs to us, humans, more than any other living being.