Description

The Extrinsic Religious Values Scale (ERV) is a psychometric tool designed to assess an individual’s external or extrinsic motivation for engaging in religious practices and beliefs. This scale measures how much a person is motivated by external rewards or social benefits, such as seeking approval, gaining social status, or avoiding social disapproval, rather than an intrinsic commitment to the religion itself. The ERV scale evaluates the degree to which religious practices are influenced by external social factors rather than personal spiritual conviction.

Goal

The primary goal of the ERV is to provide a reliable measure of the external, social, and pragmatic aspects of religious involvement. It helps researchers and clinicians understand how religious beliefs and practices are influenced by social or extrinsic factors, rather than personal or intrinsic spiritual motivations. The ERV is commonly used in studies exploring the relationship between religion, social behavior, and mental health, as well as examining how religious motivations might relate to psychological outcomes or societal roles.

Analysis

The ERV scale consists of statements that assess various dimensions of extrinsic religiosity, including social or external benefits, such as community approval, societal expectations, or personal gain. The scale includes a variety of statements designed to capture the degree to which a person is involved in religion for reasons other than a personal spiritual commitment.
Examples of statements on the ERV:
“I go to church because it helps me make important social connections.”
“I participate in religious activities because it is expected of me by my family or community.”
“Being seen at church gives me a sense of belonging.”

Scoring

The ERV scale is usually assessed using a Likert scale, where participants rate each statement on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). The responses are then analyzed to produce an overall score, which reflects the degree to which the individual’s religious motivations are driven by external, social, or pragmatic factors. Higher scores indicate a stronger external motivation for religious participation.

References

Enright, R. D., & Fitzgibbons, R. P. (2000). Helping Clients Forgive: An Empirical Guide for Resolving Anger and Restoring Hope. American Psychological Association.
Enright, R. D., & The Human Development Study Group. (1991). The moral development of forgiveness. In W. M. Kurtines & J. L. Gewirtz (Eds.), Handbook of Moral Behavior and Development (Vol. 1, pp. 123-152). Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Freedman, S. R., & Enright, R. D. (1996). Forgiveness as an intervention goal with incest survivors. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 64(5), 983-992.
Lin, W. L., Mack, D., Enright, R. D., Krahn, D., & Baskin, T. W. (2004). Effects of forgiveness therapy on anger, mood, and vulnerability to substance use among inpatient substance-dependent clients. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72(6), 1114-1121.