Development of a Questionnaire for the Perception of Escalating Moves in Violent Scenarios: A Pilot Study

In violent scenarios, whether real or fictional, some actions serve as decisive “escalating moves” that terminate the confrontation, in contrast to non-terminal acts that merely incapacitate the opponent. This study outlines the development and initial validation of a questionnaire designed to assess how individuals perceive such escalation moves. Following established scale-development procedures, a conceptual framework was created, items were generated, content validity was evaluated by experts, and a pilot test was conducted with 20 participants. The final 13-item scale demonstrated good internal consistency (McDonald’s ω = .82). The instrument offers a reliable tool for media psychology, aggression research, and studies of public attitudes toward violence.