HAND SCORING THE
ASPIRES
SPIRITUAL TRANSCENDENCE SCALE
SHORT FORM
Spiritual Transcendence (ST) represents the ability of an individual to stand
outside of his/her immediate sense of time and place and to view life from a
larger, more objective perspective. This transcendent perspective is one in
which the person sees a fundamental unity underlying the diverse strivings of
nature. People high on ST believe that there is a larger plan and meaning to
life, something beyond our mortal existence. Despite all the ups and downs in
life, there is something more permanent and constant that gives direction,
meaning, and value to life. Those low on ST are more concerned with the
material aspects of life and see no larger meaning to life other than what life
offers in the here and now. There are three aspects to ST: Prayer
Fulfillment, a feeling of joy and contentment that results from personal
encounters with the god of one's
understanding; Universality, a belief that all of life is intimately
tied together; and Connectedness, a belief that one is part of a larger
human reality that cuts across generations and groups.
TAKE THE STS-R NOW!
|
Section II. |
Strongly Agree |
Agree |
Neutral |
Disagree |
Strongly Disagree |
|
1. In the quiet of my prayers and
/or meditations, I find a sense of wholeness. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
2. I have done things in my life
because I believed it would please a parent, relative, or friend that had
died. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
3. Although dead, memories and
thoughts of some of my relatives continue to influence my current
life. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
4. I find inner strength and/or
peace from my prayers and/or meditations. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
5. I do not have any strong emotional ties to someone who has died. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
6. There is no higher plane of
consciousness or spirituality that binds all people. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
7. Although individual people may
be difficult, I feel an emotional bond with all of humanity. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
8. My prayers and/or meditations
provide me with a sense of emotional support. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
9. I feel that on a higher level
all of us share a common bond. |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
To Score the STS-R, points are assigned to your responses to
each item. For items 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 assign 5 points for each Strongly
Agree response, 4 points for each Agree, 3 points for each Neutral,
2 points for each Disagree, and 1 point for each Strongly Disagree.
For items 5 and 6, the opposite applies; give 1 point for each Strongly
Agree, 2 points for Agree, 3 points for Neutral, 4 points for
Disagree, and 5 points for Strongly Disagree. Add your scores for
all nine items together. The table below presents the average range of
scores by gender and age group. If your total score falls in this
range, then you have an interest in understanding broader, transcendent issues,
but also have concerns for immediate needs. You balance both perspectives. If
your score is higher than these values, then you have a strong Spiritual
Transcendent Orientation. You are concerned with living a life that is in
accord with values and meanings that originate with some larger understanding
of the purpose of the universe. You tend to see life in terms of "both and"
rather than "either or".
Individuals whose score is lower than the tabled values are more focused on the
tangible realities of daily living. There may be more of a self-oriented focus
to life, where personal concerns and issues are of greater concern.
|
Gender |
Age |
Total STS |
Prayer Fulfillment Items 1, 4, 8 |
Universality Items 6, 7, 9 |
Connected- ness Items 2, 3, 5 |
|
Women |
Up to age 21 Ages 21 - 30 Ages 30 and
up |
29-35 32-38 35-39 |
9-12 11-13 11-14 |
9-12 11-13 11-13 |
10-12 10-13 10-12 |
|
Men |
Up to age 21 Ages 21 - 30 Ages 30 and
up |
27-33 23-29 34-38 |
8-11 7-11 13-15 |
9-11 6-10 11-13 |
9-12 8-11 10-12 |
To get a better sense of your
standing on the different aspects of ST, you can find your score on each of the
three facets. For Prayer Fulfillment, add your point values for items 1,
4, and 8. Finding your gender and age group in the above table, look to see
what the average range of scores are. If your score is in this range, this
indicates that there are times when you derive some emotional satisfaction from
prayer and/or mediation. However, there are times when the pressures of daily
life interfere with, or prevent, you from engaging in such practices. If your
score is higher, then you are someone who has created a space in your life that
is devoted to meditation and prayer on a regular basis. Individuals who score high tend to find a personal sense of
emotional satisfaction, strength, and support in their efforts to connect with
some larger reality. Time spent in this positive solitude provides
fortification and feelings of emotional renewal during times of crisis and stress.
Those who score lower than the average tend not to involve themselves with this
type of inner work. Any efforts at meditation or prayer are more haphazard in
nature and superficial in depth. Such individuals are easily distracted by the
immediate demands of their lives from meditative pursuits.
For Universality, add
your scores for items 6, 7, and 9. Again, the table provides the average range
of scores. Such scores reflect a belief that there are some things in life to
which the person feels close (e.g., people, organizations), but there are also
aspects of life to which the individual may feel distant or believe to be
alien. High scores represent a belief that all of life is interconnected. There
is the belief that all people share a common bond and heritage that supercedes
any external differences. Seeing humanity as a single, interrelated body breeds
a broad respect for others and a corresponding need to protect life in all its
forms. Hurting any one element may hurt the whole. Low scores reflect a more "go it alone"
type attitude; that each person needs to rely on him/herself. Humanity may be
viewed as simply a collection of individuals, some may be seen as more similar
to self than others. There can be a "we
versus they" mentality.
For Connectedness, add your scores to items 2, 3, and 5. Average scores reflect a belief that relationships are important but one's commitment to others may be limited to certain individuals. High scores represent a belief that a person is like a hub of a wheel, with spokes radiating out in all directions. These "spokes" represent relationships one has, as well as obligations, to those who preceded the person (e.g., parents, grandparents, one's ancestors), to those who co-occupy the current world both immediately (current family, friends, co-workers) and distally (strangers who may be in need), to those who will come after (e.g., children, grandchildren, future generations). Those who score high on this dimension experience a special sense of responsibility (and gratitude) for the many gifts received from those who came before; recognize a need to grow these gifts through sharing with others; and see an obligation to insure that the wisdom and wealth of this generations is transmitted to those who come after. Low scores reflect a potential difficulty to find a sense of belonging and meaning within any type of group or community. Such individuals may have feelings of isolation and/or alienation from others. Low scores would reflect a tendency to view one's life only from the immediacy of one's personal history.
The ASPIRES measures both spirituality and religiosity. It comes in both a long form (35 items) and a short form (13 items). To receive a free specimen set contact Dr. Piedmont at RPiedmont@loyola.edu.