The human scale is a term used to refer to a factor that takes people as the primary measure of development and association "Association (Law)"). The basic postulate is that development should revolve around people,[1] being the criterion used to create and promote direct human relationships and associations, that is, based on the immediate particular relationships between people.

It seeks to encourage and prefer face-to-face human contact through social, economic, urban environments, etc., satisfactory and favorable both to the development of the potential of each individual "Autonomy (philosophy and psychology)") and supportive coexistence, understood as two essential factors for comprehensive development.

In personal development, the human scale favors integrative personalities that promote dialogue and effective interaction between the participants of a group to achieve their common purpose and focus on their reality and direct environment.[2]​.

In the case of referring to the human habitat, we would be talking about a close environment that would be, for a person and group of people, appropriate both for their personal development and for direct, face-to-face interaction with their peers; This would allow reciprocal strengthening among its members.

On a human scale, preference is sought for the development of associations from the most basic or smallest nuclei or units of grouping and organization of people. This close association can be a company (workshop, factory, business), district (municipality, council, commune), union or any type of interactive association, usually in pursuit of a satisfactory coexistence. On a human scale, cooperative management models would be viable, according to its supporters.