Development of the Japanese Version of Belief in a Zero-Sum Game Scale

Zero-sum beliefs describe a worldview in which one party’s gain is perceived as another party’s loss, and are considered a precursor to interpersonal and intergroup conflict. This study develops a Japanese version of the Belief in a Zero-Sum Game (BZSG) scale and examines its validity and reliability. A total of 357 university students completed the BZSG and related measures (e.g., relative deprivation). The results indicate a single-factor structure, consistent with previous research. The scale is positively associated with relative deprivation and negatively associated with self-esteem and general trust, supporting its validity. The theoretical and practical implications of the results are discussed.