Social Axioms Survey (sorted by factors)

Factor 1: Social Cynicism (19 items) (coded as a)

# on # on
Social # on182-item
Items 82-item 60-item
Cynicism survey
survey survey
1 Kind-hearted people usually suffer losses. 162 75 54
2 Powerful people tend to exploit others. 134 56 43
3 Power and status make people arrogant. 129 53 41
4 Kind-hearted people are easily bullied. 148 64 48
5 It is rare to see a happy ending in real life. 51 22 17
To care about societal affairs only brings
6 163 76 55
trouble for yourself.
7 Harsh laws can make people obey. 177 81 59
Significant achievement requires one to
8 show no concern for the means needed for 175 79 58
that achievement.
The various social institutions in society
9 141 59 45
are biased towards the rich.
10 People deeply in love are usually blind. 160 73 53
Old people are usually stubborn and
11 88 36 28
biased.
It is easier to succeed if one knows how to
12 143 62 47
take short-cuts.
People will stop working hard after they
13 138 57 44
secure a comfortable life.
Females need a better appearance than
14 65 26 20
males.
15 Old people are a heavy burden on society. 149 66 49
16 Humility is dishonesty. 103 46 35
Young people are impulsive and
17 48 20 16
unreliable.
Most people hope to be repaid after they
18 180 82 60
help others.
19 Too much money ruins ones character 21
Factor 2: Reward for Application (16 items) (coded as b)

# on # on
Reward for # on182-item
Items 82-item 60-item
Application survey
survey survey
1 One will succeed if he/she really tries. 99 43 33
Hard working people will achieve
2 174 78 57
more in the end.
3 Failure is the beginning of success. 102 44 34
Mutual tolerance can lead to
4 55 23 18
satisfactory human relationships.
One who does not know how to plan
5 44 16 13
his or her future will eventually fail.
6 Adversity can be overcome by effort. 67 27 21
A modest person can make a good
7 156 70 51
impression on people.
8 Every problem has a solution. 68 28 22
The just will eventually defeat the
9 153 68 50
wicked.
10 Competition brings about progress. 73 31 24
Good deeds will be rewarded, and bad
11 91 39 30
deeds will be punished.
12 Caution helps avoid mistakes. 5 2 2
13 Knowledge is necessary for success. 46 19 15
Social justice can be maintained if
14 115 50 38
everyone cares about politics.
To identify a problem, open criticism
15 69
is important.
One will not accomplish much if one
16 does not put any effort into the 72
important things in life.
Factor 3: Social Flexibility (14 items) (coded as c)

# on # on
Social # on182-item
Items 82-item 60-item
Flexibility survey
survey survey
Human behavior changes with the
1 14 4 4
social context.
One has to deal with matters according
2 69 30 23
to the specific circumstances.
People may have opposite behaviors on
3 17 7 6
different occasions.
Individual effort makes little difference
4 37 13 11
in the outcome. ***
To deal with things in a flexible way
5 85 35 27
leads to success.
To experience various life styles is a
6 110 47 36
way to enjoy life.
Ones behaviors may be contrary to his
7 93 40 31
or her true feelings.
To plan for possible mistakes will result
8 119 52 40
in fewer obstacles.
There is usually only one way to solve a
9 74 32 25
problem. ***
Current losses are not necessarily bad
10 117 51 39
for ones long-term future.
There are phenomena in the world that
11 45 17 14
cannot be explained by science.
Ones appearance does not reflect ones
12 20 8 7
character.
Acting according to principles prevents
13 the need to make troublesome 65
decisions. ***
People behave differently although they
14 25
do not differ in essence.

Note. Items marked with *** require recoding

Factor 4: Fate Control (8 items) (coded as d)

Fate # on182-item # on 82-item # on 60-item

Items
Control survey survey survey
Fate determines ones successes and
1 28 9 8
failures.
Individual characteristics, such as
2 appearance and birthday, affect ones 61 24 19
fate.
There are certain ways to help us
3 improve our luck and avoid unlucky 94 42 32
things.
There are many ways for people to
4 166 77 56
predict what will happen in the future.
All things in the universe have been
5 133 55 42
determined.
6 Most disasters can be predicted. 81 34 26
7 A persons talents are inborn. 90 38 29
Good luck follows if one survives a
8 10 3 3
disaster.
Factor 5: Spirituality (12 items) (coded as e)

# on182-item # on 82-item # on 60-item

Spirituality Items
survey survey survey
There is a supreme being controlling
1 41 14 12
the universe.
Belief in a religion makes people
2 157 71 52
good citizens.
Ghosts or spirits are peoples fantasy.
3 31 12 10
***
Belief in a religion helps one
4 142 60 46
understand the meaning of life.
Religious faith contributes to good
5 1 1 1
mental health.
Religious people are more likely to
6 29 11 9
maintain moral standards.
Religion makes people escape from
7 3 5 5
reality. ***
Religious beliefs lead to unscientific
8 112 48 37
thinking. ***
Art is a compensation for the dismal
9 18
features of everyday life.
Tranquillity and serenity lead to a
10 33
contented existence.
One feels safer in the world through a
11 49
belief in a supreme being.
After life on earth, one carries on an
12 63
existence in another form.

Note. Items marked with *** require recoding