Components of Pacifism

• Author: Gregory C. Elliott
• Published date: 01 March 1980
• Date: 01 March 1980
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/002200278002400102
• Subject Matter: Articles

Components

of

Pacifism

CONCEPTUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT

GREGORY

C.

ELLIOTT

University

of

hlarjland

From the philosophical and social science literature on pacifism, four components

were derived as characterizing the pacifist: physical nonviolence, psychological non-

violence, active value orientation. and internal locus of control. Scales to measure atti-

tudes toward these components

were

developed and validated. Each scale evinced a strong

level

of

internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the four corn-

ponents are distinct but related and that each scde is a satisfactory indicator of its in-

tended component. The usefulness of the scales in future research on pacifism is discussed.

1

n resolving serious conflicts, pacifists advocate a nonviolent ap-

proach and present an alternative to the more common violent methods

of conflict resolution. One distinguishing feature

of

pacifism is that it

is both

a

pattern

of

social behavior and a beliefsystem about theefficacy

and necessity of this pattern. The varied reactions often evoked by

pacifists establish a strong potential for unique insights into the nature

of

conflict resolution.

Yet empirical and theoretical research on pacifism in the social

sciences has been largely uninformative and often contradictory. While

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Support for the research reported herein came from the National

Institute for General Medical Science Grant Number Ghl-01526-08. Thanks are due to

Shalom

H.

Schwartz. whose patient counsel and constructive criticism contributed much

to

the conceptualization presented in this article. and Halliman H. Winsborough, whose

insights into confirmatory factor analysis stimulated my thinking about the results

1

ob-

tained. Thanks are also due to Carlton

A.

Hornung and hlady

W.

Segal for their com-

ments on an earlier dralt and to my colleagues who provided

a

critical review

of

the pool

of

items for each

scale.

Any errors which remain are my responsibility.

Address all communications to Gregory C. Elliott, Department of Sociology, Uni-

versity of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742.

JOURX'AL

OF

COSFLICT

KESOLUI'IOS.

Vol.

24

So.

1.

hlarch

1980

27-51

0

1980

Sage

Publications,

Inc.

27

28

JOURNAL OF COh'FLICT RESOLUTJ0,V

Some

of

the problems are methodological, in many cases the difficulties

that arise are conceptual. The definitions given for pacifism and the

tactic of nonviolence are often inconsistent, incomplete, or nonexistent.

Further, since these definitions often differ from study to study, results

are not comparable, and generalizability is limited.

Two

pressing needs are evident in the social science literature on

pacifism. The first need is for

a

coherent, consistent, and comprehensive

understanding of the nature of pacifism. The second is for

a

systematic

scheme to classify individuals according to their orientation toward

pacifism, and

so

to identify pacifists and nonpacifists for empirical

research.

The major goals of the present research are threefold. First,

I

briefly

review the existing empirical and theoretical research on pacifism.

Second,

I

present

a

conceptualization of pacifism derived from its major

proponent, Mohandas Gandhi.

I

argue, based on Gandhi's works, that

pacifism is composed

of

four distinct but related components (physical

nonviolence, psychological nonviolence, active value orientation, and

internal locus of control), and

I

provide definitions

for

each

of

these.

Third,

1

analyze and discuss the relationships arfiong these components

as

measured by scales developed or borrowed

to

measure attitudes

toward each of them.

EMPIRICAL AND

THEORETICAL RESEARCH

ON

PACIFIShl

Empirical research on pacifism in the social sciences has often

fo-

cused on the concept

of

nonviolence, usually leaving its definition and

relationship to pacifism implicit. The research can usefully be divided

into three categories, according to the type

of

method employed: field

research, laboratory research, and historical analyses.'

Field research on nonviolence and pacifism usually involves the

question

of

usage. Pacifism is typically operationalized as interest

or

active involvement in nonviolent organizations. These studies examine

correlates of membership in pacifist groups (Solomon and Fishman,

1964a, 1964b; Erbe, 1966; Jenkins, 1967), or they compare peace group

I.

Since historical analyses are generally restricted

to

the

study

ofsocial rnobernents,

~heydonoidealdirectlg with

ihe

individuals in relation totheirattitudeand bclielsysternn.

As

such. they are beyond the

scope

of

this paper.

The

interested reader is referred

to

Sharp

(1973)

for

a detailed analysi, of nonbiolent social rnobernents.