Scale Description

The Identification with All Humanity Scale (IWAHS-9) is a psychological assessment instrument designed to evaluate the extent to which individuals identify with humanity as a whole and perceive themselves as connected to people beyond the boundaries of their immediate social, national, or cultural groups.

Identification with all humanity reflects a broader form of social identity in which the sense of “we” extends beyond national, cultural, and geographical distinctions. Higher levels of identification may reflect stronger feelings of connection with people worldwide, greater concern for their well-being, and stronger endorsement of values such as equality, social justice, and global solidarity.

The present version consists of 9 items, providing a concise approach to assessing this broader form of human identification.

Objective

The primary objective of the IWAHS-9 is to assess the extent to which individuals experience a sense of connection and identification with humanity as a whole.

The scale can contribute to understanding global social identity and its relationship with attitudes and behaviors associated with solidarity, equality, social justice, acceptance of different social and cultural groups, and concern for issues affecting people worldwide.

Data Analysis and Use

Data obtained from the IWAHS-9 can be analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Depending on the research design, measures of central tendency and variability can be calculated, while the reliability of the scale and its relationships with other psychological, social, or demographic variables can also be examined.

Researchers may compare scores across different demographic or social groups and employ multivariate statistical techniques to investigate factors associated with higher or lower levels of identification with humanity.

When the scale is administered within different linguistic or cultural contexts, researchers should also consider examining its psychometric properties within the specific study population.

Scoring

The IWAHS-9 consists of 9 items. In the version provided, responses are recorded using a five-point Likert scale:

1 = Not at all
2 = A little
3 = Moderately
4 = Very much
5 = Extremely

The resulting score can be used as an indicator of the individual’s level of identification with humanity, according to the scoring instructions applicable to the specific version of the instrument. Higher scores generally represent a stronger sense of identification and connection with humanity as a whole.

Applications

The IWAHS-9 can be applied in research within social psychology, political psychology, cross-cultural psychology, education, and the broader social sciences. It may be particularly useful in studies examining global identity, solidarity, humanitarian attitudes, intergroup relations, and social cohesion.

The scale may also be incorporated into research investigating relationships between identification with humanity and other psychological or social variables, including prosocial orientations, attitudes toward different groups, and perceptions of global social issues.

Interpretation of Results

Results should be interpreted in relation to the characteristics of the study population and the specific objectives of the research. IWAHS-9 scores should not be interpreted as a clinical diagnosis or as a comprehensive assessment of an individual’s personality.

Rather, the IWAHS-9 is primarily a research instrument for assessing social identity and identification with humanity. Its findings may therefore provide greater interpretive value when examined alongside relevant psychological, social, cultural, and demographic variables.

References

McFarland, S., Webb, M., & Brown, D. (2012). All humanity is my ingroup: A measure and studies of identification with all humanity. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 103(5), 830–853.