Psychology RootsTable of Contents
Self-Consciousness Scale
Here in this post, we are sharing the “Self-Consciousness Scale”. You can read psychometric and Author information. We have thousands of Scales and questionnaires in our collection (See Scales and Questionnaires). You can demand us any scale and questionnaires related to psychology through our community, and we will provide you with a short time. Keep visiting Psychology Roots.
About Self-Consciousness Scale
Scale Name
Self-Consciousness Scale
Author Details
Allan Fenigstein, Michael F. Scheier, and Arnold H. Buss (1974)
Translation Availability
English
Background/Description
The Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS), developed by Allan Fenigstein, Michael F. Scheier, and Arnold H. Buss in 1974, is a self-report questionnaire designed to assess self-consciousness and social anxiety in adults, with recent applications in adolescents (Davis & Franzoi, 1986; Martin & Debus, 1998). It measures the tendency to focus on oneself, distinguishing between public and private self-consciousness, and includes a social anxiety component. Cited in Fenigstein et al. (1974), the SCS aligns with social psychology frameworks, exploring self-awareness and its impact on behavior and social interactions (Carver & Scheier, 1981).
The SCS comprises 23 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0 = “extremely uncharacteristic” to 4 = “extremely characteristic”). It yields three subscales: Public Self-Consciousness (7 items, e.g., “I’m concerned about my style of doing things”), Private Self-Consciousness (10 items, e.g., “I’m aware of the way my mind works when I work through a problem”), and Social Anxiety (6 items, e.g., “It takes me time to overcome my shyness in new situations”). Item scores are summed for each subscale (Public: 0-28, Private: 0-40, Social Anxiety: 0-24), with higher scores indicating greater self-consciousness or anxiety. In some studies, only Public and Private subscales are used, excluding Social Anxiety. Validated primarily in adults but extended to adolescents, the SCS is used to assess self-awareness, predict social behavior, and inform interventions for anxiety and self-regulation.
Psychologists, social psychology researchers, and clinicians use the SCS to evaluate self-focused attention, study its role in mental health, and design interventions for adolescents and adults. Its strong psychometrics and applicability across age groups are strengths, though English-only availability and moderate subscale correlations may limit its use in some contexts.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a copy of the scale from authorized sources, such as Fenigstein et al. (1974) in Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (Vol. 43, pp. 522-527), ensuring ethical use permissions.
- Explain the purpose to respondents, noting that it assesses self-awareness and social feelings to support psychological understanding, emphasizing anonymity and using age-appropriate, non-judgmental language.
- Provide instructions, asking respondents to rate how characteristic each statement is of themselves, using the 5-point scale, based on general tendencies. Exclude Social Anxiety subscale if not relevant to the study.
- Approximate time for completion is 5-7 minutes for the full 23-item scale or 3-5 minutes for Public and Private subscales only.
- Administer in clinical, educational, or research settings, using paper or digital formats, ensuring a private environment. Oral administration may be used for adolescents with reading difficulties.
Reliability and Validity
The SCS has robust psychometric properties, as reported in Fenigstein et al. (1974). Internal consistency is moderate to high: Public Self-Consciousness (Cronbach’s α ≈ 0.75-0.84), Private Self-Consciousness (α ≈ 0.73-0.80), and Social Anxiety (α ≈ 0.68-0.79). Test-retest reliability is high: Public (r = 0.84), Private (r = 0.79), and Social Anxiety (r = 0.73) over 2-4 weeks.
Convergent validity is supported by moderate correlations between Public and Private subscales (r = 0.26, p < .01) and between Public and Social Anxiety (r = 0.21, p < .01), as well as with related constructs like self-esteem (r ≈ 0.30-0.50 for Private) and anxiety measures (r ≈ 0.40-0.60 for Social Anxiety). Discriminant validity is evidenced by weaker correlations with unrelated constructs, like cognitive performance (r < 0.20). Criterion validity is demonstrated by predicting social behavior and mental health outcomes in adults and adolescents. Factor analyses confirm the three-subscale structure, supporting construct validity. Its reliability in adolescent populations (Davis & Franzoi, 1986) makes it versatile, though pairing with measures like the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents (La Greca & Lopez, 1998) can enhance assessment.
Available Versions
17-Items
Reference
Fenigstein, A., Scheier, M. F., & Buss, A. H. (1975). Public and private self-consciousness: Assessment and theory. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 43(4), 522.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Self-Consciousness Scale measure?
It measures public and private self-consciousness and social anxiety in adults and adolescents.
Who can use the scale?
Psychologists, social psychology researchers, and clinicians studying adults or adolescents.
How long does the scale take to complete?
It takes 5-7 minutes (full scale) or 3-5 minutes (Public and Private subscales only).
Is the scale specific to certain groups?
It targets adults, with validated use in adolescents.
Can the scale inform interventions?
Yes, its strong psychometrics support interventions for self-regulation and anxiety.
Disclaimer
Please note that Psychology Roots does not have the right to grant permission for the use of any psychological scales or assessments listed on its website. To use any scale or assessment, you must obtain permission directly from the author or translator of the tool. Psychology Roots provides information about various tools and their administration procedures, but it is your responsibility to obtain proper permissions before using any scale or assessment. If you need further information about an author’s contact details, please submit a query to the Psychology Roots team.
Help Us Improve This Article
Have you discovered an inaccuracy? We put out great effort to give accurate and scientifically trustworthy information to our readers. Please notify us if you discover any typographical or grammatical errors.
Make a comment. We acknowledge and appreciate your efforts.
Share With Us
If you have any scale or any material related to psychology kindly share it with us at psychologyroots@gmail.com. We help others on behalf of you.
