Advancing the Two-Tiered Mind Metatheory: Theoretical Expansion and Preliminary Validation of the Core Human Propensities Scale

This research article is aimed at two goals. First, it is aimed at exploring the theoretical expansion of the proposed metatheory of the psyche, the Two-Tiered Mind Model, which the author introduced in a 2024 conceptual work. The Two-Tiered Mind Model aims at attempting to unify diverse psychological frameworks and offer a comprehensive yet succinct model capturing the core nature of the human mind. Second, it is aimed at developing and conducting a preliminary empirical validation of two core human propensities proposed in this metatheory through the creation and initial testing of the Core Human Propensities Scale (CHPS). The proposed two core human propensities are the propensity to cling to the self via comparison and competition, and the propensity to cling to perceived pleasure while avoiding perceived displeasure. These two core human propensities emerged from the author’s synthesis of foundational psychological perspectives. The CHPS item set was adapted from the Nonclinging to Ego Scale (NCES), which was originally developed in a 2022 study. With the use of secondary data from 817 Thai university students collected in the 2022 study, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported a two-factor structure, with good concurrent and discriminant validity.