Description

The Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale (RCBS) is a psychometric tool designed to assess an individual’s level of shyness. It was developed to provide a reliable and valid measurement of shyness, which is often associated with social anxiety and interpersonal difficulties. The scale is widely used in psychological research to better understand shyness and its effects on social and emotional functioning.

Purpose

The main goals of the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale are:
Assessment of shyness: To measure the degree to which individuals experience feelings of shyness and avoid social situations.
Understanding the impact of shyness: To investigate how shyness affects social interaction, self-esteem, and emotional well-being.
Support for psychotherapeutic interventions: To provide data that supports the design and evaluation of intervention programs aimed at reducing shyness and enhancing social skills.

Analysis

The analysis of the RCBS includes the following:
Scale structure:
The scale consists of 20 items that assess the frequency and intensity of shyness-related feelings in various social situations.
The items address feelings of embarrassment, insecurity, and avoidance of social interactions.
Core dimensions:
Emotional shyness: Feelings of awkwardness and nervousness in social situations.
Behavioral avoidance: Tendencies to avoid or withdraw from social interactions.
Statistical analysis:
Statistical methods are used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale, as well as to explore correlations between shyness and other psychological factors.

Scoring

Scoring of the RCBS includes:
Total shyness score: A cumulative score reflecting the individual’s overall level of shyness.
Subscale scores: Scores for the emotional and behavioral dimensions of shyness.
A 5-point Likert scale is used for responses, where 1 represents “strongly disagree” and 5 represents “strongly agree”. Both total and subscale scores are used to understand patterns of shyness and to develop coping strategies.

References

Cheek, J. M., & Buss, A. H. (1981). Shyness and Sociability. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 41(2), 330–339.
Hopko, D. R., Stowell, J., Jones, W. H., Armento, M. E., & Cheek, J. M. (2005). Psychometric Properties of the Revised Cheek and Buss Shyness Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 84(2), 185–192.
Jones, W. H., Briggs, S. R., & Smith, T. G. (1986). Shyness: Conceptualization and Measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 51(3), 629–639.