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Dominance-Prestige Scales

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The development of the Dominance-Prestige scales shown below are reported in: Cheng, J. T., Tracy, J. L., & Henrich, J. (2010). Pride, personality, and the evolutionary foundations of human social status. Evolution and Human Behavior, 31, 334-347.

Scoring Key (for both self- and peer-report versions):

Dominance score is computed by averaging items: 3, 5, 7, 9, 10 (reversed), 11, 12 (reversed), 16.

Prestige score is computed by averaging items: 1, 2 (reversed), 4, 6 (reversed), 8, 13, 14, 15, 17 (reversed).

Self-Report Scale

Please indicate the extent to which each statement accurately describes you by writing the appropriate number from the scale below in the space provided.

  1. ____ Members of my peer group respect and admire me.
  2. ____ Members of my peer group do NOT want to be like me.
  3. ____ I enjoy having control over others.
  4. ____ Others always expect me to be successful.
  5. ____ I often try to get my own way regardless of what others may want.
  6. ____ Others do NOT value my opinion.
  7. ____ I am willing to use aggressive tactics to get my way.
  8. ____ I am held in high esteem by those I know.
  9. ____ I try to control others rather than permit them to control me.
  10. ____ I do NOT have a forceful or dominant personality.
  11. ____ Others know it is better to let me have my way.
  12. ____ I do NOT enjoy having authority over other people.
  13. ____ My unique talents and abilities are recognized by others.
  14. ____ I am considered an expert on some matters by others.
  15. ____ Others seek my advice on a variety of matters.
  16. ____ Some people are afraid of me.
  17. ____ Others do NOT enjoy hanging out with me.

Peer-Report Scale

____________________________ (insert name of target here)

Please indicate the extent to which each statement accurately describes this particular person by writing the appropriate number from the scale below in the space provided.

  1. ____ Members of your group respect and admire him/her.
  2. ____ Members of your group do NOT want to be like him/her.
  3. ____ He/she enjoys having control over other members of the group.
  4. ____ Members of your group always expect him/her to be successful.
  5. ____ He/she often tries to get his/her own way regardless of what others in the group may want.
  6. ____ Members of your group do NOT value his/her opinion.
  7. ____ He/she is willing to use aggressive tactics to get his/her way.
  8. ____ He/she is held in high esteem by members of the group.
  9. ____ He/she tries to control others rather than permit them to control him/her.
  10. ____ He/she does NOT have a forceful or dominant personality.
  11. ____ Members of the group know it is better to let him/her have his/her way.
  12. ____ He/she does NOT enjoy having authority over other members of the group.
  13. ____ His/her unique talents and abilities are recognized by others in the group.
  14. ____ He/she is considered an expert on some matters by members of the group.
  15. ____ Members of your group seek his/her advice on a variety of matters.
  16. ____ Members of your group are afraid of him/her.
  17. ____ Others do NOT enjoy hanging out with him/her.