Concepts of God and Parental Images

Abstract

The Concepts of God and Parental Images Scale, frequently referred to as the Semantic Differential Parental Scale (SDPS), is a specialized psychological instrument developed at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium. Its primary function is to measure the relationship between an individual’s symbolic images of Mother, Father, and God, specifically concerning perceived maternal and paternal characteristics. The scale is theoretically grounded in psychoanalytic concepts and utilizes the methodology of the Semantic Differential technique, pioneered by Osgood et al. (1957).

The original version contains 36 items, equally divided into maternal and paternal qualities, which are rated using a 7-point Likert-style format. A key feature of the measure is the instruction for respondents to evaluate their parents at a “symbolic” level—that is, as ideals, rather than based on actual memory or experience. Unlike standard psychometric scales, items are not summed to create total scores; instead, specialized statistical methods are employed to assess the distance or similarity between the entire profile of scores generated for the three target images (Mother, Father, and God).

Keywords

God image, parental images, mother image, father image, symbolic representation, psychoanalysis, Semantic Differential Parental Scale, SDPS, religious concepts, cross-cultural psychology, theology.

Authors

Antoine Vergote, Adolfo Tamayo, Luiz Pasquali, M. Bonami, M. Pattyn, A. Custers.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Concepts of God and Parental Images Scale is to systematically quantify the psychological correspondence between an individual’s symbolic representations of their parents (Mother and Father) and their conceptual image of God. This measure is designed to explore the hypothesis, derived from psychoanalytic concepts, that the perception of the divine figure is significantly shaped by the qualities attributed to parental archetypes.

Methodologically, the scale serves to enforce a critical distinction in psychological research: requiring subjects to rate the idealized, or “symbolic” image of the parent figures (“as they should be”) rather than their actual biographical “memory image.” This allows researchers to isolate the influence of archetypal parental qualities on religious conceptualization, independent of specific personal experiences. The scale’s application in cross-cultural comparisons further allows for the examination of how these patterns vary across different cultural and religious contexts.

Construct

The instrument measures the construct of Symbolic Image Correspondence within the domain of religious and parental psychology. Specifically, it assesses the perceived allocation of 36 distinct qualities—half maternal and half paternal—across three core conceptual targets: Mother, Father, and God. The underlying theoretical assumption is that the God image is a mixture of both maternal (e.g., warmth, tenderness) and paternal (e.g., strength, authority) characteristics.

Utilizing the Semantic Differential technique, the scale captures the semantic space occupied by these three images. The resulting data profiles reveal the degree of overlap and differentiation, confirming that the God image is a synthesis, although the precise pattern of synthesis varies depending on the population sample studied (Vergote et al., 1969).

Validity

Evidence for the validity of the SDPS primarily stems from its ability to differentiate between the core figures and the successful implementation of its unique instructional set.

• Discriminative Validity: Studies across various samples—including American students, French-speaking Canadian students, and American university students—consistently demonstrated that all 36 items successfully and significantly discriminate between the Mother and Father figures, confirming the item selection process.

• Construct Validity (Instructional): Crucial validation was provided by research confirming that the results obtained when subjects follow the required “symbolic image” instructions differ significantly from those obtained when subjects rate the figures based on “memory image” instructions. This supports the contention that the scale measures the intended symbolic, idealized construct rather than merely autobiographical recollection.

Reliability

Due to the specialized methodology of the SDPS, standard psychometric measures of reliability are largely inapplicable.

• Internal Consistency: Measures such as Cronbach’s alpha are not relevant because the scale is designed to analyze the entire profile of scores across the 36 items, rather than summing items to create a single composite or subscale score. The variability in scores across the profile is the object of measurement, not the internal coherence of the items themselves.

• Test-Retest Reliability: The sources reviewed do not report any data concerning the stability of the profiles over time, meaning no test-retest reliability data is currently available in the foundational literature.

Factor Analysis

The Concepts of God and Parental Images Scale does not rely on a traditional factor structure or subscale summation. Its methodological foundation in the Semantic Differential technique dictates that analysis focuses on measuring the overall distance and similarity between the conceptual profiles of Mother, Father, and God.

The development process itself, however, was highly systematic: original items were compiled from over a hundred psychological, philosophical, religious, and literary works, resulting in a list of 226 qualities. These qualities were then subjected to expert rating to determine which items most effectively differentiated maternal from paternal images, leading to the final 36-item selection. This process ensures the two intended conceptual dimensions (maternal/paternal) are represented, but it does not imply an underlying factor model for score aggregation.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological measure, utilizing semantic judgment.

Format: The original scale (SDPS) contains 36 items. A revised 72-item version (SDPS II) was introduced by Pasquali (1981). The rating format is a 7-point Likert-style format, ranging from “Not at all associated” to “Very much associated.” All items are positively worded.

Language Available: Originally constructed in Dutch, the scale has been translated and used in French, English, Spanish, and Italian.

Population Group: Diverse populations, including students, faculty, and special clinical groups (e.g., juvenile delinquents, schizophrenics). Highly suited for cross-cultural comparisons.

Age Group: Adolescents (high school students) through adults (college faculty and the elderly).

Population Details: Initial standardization included 180 American Roman Catholic students. Subsequent research has utilized samples from various countries including Belgium, Italy, Zaire, Colombia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and the United States.

Test Methodology: The scale uses the principles of the Semantic Differential technique. Scoring requires specialized statistical knowledge to calculate the distance or similarity among the three image profiles, rather than simple summation of scores.

Keywords

Psychometrics, profile analysis, symbolic image, memory image, Catholic University of Louvain, psychoanalytic theory, religious psychology, SDPS II, cross-cultural study.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source. Primary affiliation is the Catholic University of Louvain, Belgium.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The initial publication detailing the scale and its development procedures occurred in 1969 (Vergote et al., 1969). The revised 72-item version (SDPS II) was published in 1981 (Pasquali, 1981). Information regarding current commercial permissions or licensing fees for academic use is not detailed in the source material. Researchers should consult the 1981 edited volume, The parental figures and the representation of God: A psychological and cross-cultural study, for detailed procedural instructions and item lists.

Reference’s

• Nelson, M., & Jones, E. (1957). An application of the Q Technique to the study of religious concepts. Psychological Reports, 3, 293-297.
• Osgood, C. E., Suci, E. J., & Tannenbaum, P.H. (1957). The measurement of meaning. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.
• Pasquali, L. (1981). The representation of God and parental figures among North American students. In A. Vergote & A. Tamayo, The parental figures and the representation of God: A psychological and cross-cultural study. (pp. 169-184). The Hague: Mouton.
• Strunk, 0., Jr. (1959). Perceived relationships between parental and deity concepts. Psychological Newsletter, JO, 222-226.
• Tamayo, A., & Desjardins, L. (1976). Belief systems and conceptual images of parents and God. The Journal of Psychology, 92, 131-140.
• Tamayo, A., & Dugas, A. (1977). Conceptual representation of mother, father, and God according to sex and field of study. Journal of Psychology, 97, 79-84.
• Vannesse, A., & de Neuter, P. (1981). The semantic differential parental scale. In A. Vergote & Tamayo, The parental figures and the representation of God: A psychological and cross-cultural study. (1981), pp. 25-41. The Hague: Mouton.
• Vergote, A., Tamayo, A., Pasquali, L., Bonami, M., Pattyn, M., & Custers, A. (1969). A concept of God and parental images. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 8, 79-83.
• Vergote, A., & Tamayo, A. (Eds.) (1981). The parental figures and the representation of God: A psychological and cross-cultural study. The Hague: Mouton.

Items of the CONCEPTS OF GOD AND PARENTAL IMAGES

Please rate the degree to which each of the following characteristics are associated with your mother/father/God using the following scale.

Maternal Items:

• The one who is most patient Warmth
• A warm-hearted refuge
• Who takes loving care of me
• Who will sympathize with the child’s sorrows Tenderness
•  Who is intimate
• Who gives comfort
• Who brings out that which is delicate and refined
• Close to whom one feels at home
• Self-giving love
• Sensitive
• Who welcomes me with open arms
•  Who is always waiting for me
•  Intuition
• Who is all-embracing Charming
• Who is always ready with open arms

Paternal Items:

• Strength
• Power
• Who gives the directions
• Systematic mind
• Who is the principle, the rule
• Who takes the initiative
• The one who has the knowledge The authority
• The one who acts
• Who makes the decisions
• Firmness
• The judge
• Dynamic
• The one who maintains order Who gives the law
• Stem
• Who examines things Protection against danger

Note: Subjects rate all 36 items (which are randomly arranged) for their mother/father, then all 36 items for their other parent, then 36 items for God.