HAND SCORING THE
ASPIRES
SPIRITUAL TRANSCENDENCE SCALE
SHORT FORM
ASPIRES is copyrighted 1999, 2004 by Ralph L.
Piedmont, Ph.D. Further reproduction is
prohibited without express permission of Dr. Piedmont.
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.