Description of the Questionnaire
The questionnaire consists of 23 statements concerning self-consciousness and behavior in social contexts. Responses are given on a five-point Likert scale (1 = “Strongly Disagree” to 5 = “Strongly Agree”).
Aim
The aim of the questionnaire is to measure three dimensions of self-consciousness: private self-consciousness, which refers to the focus on inner thoughts and feelings; public self-consciousness, which refers to concern about image and impression on others; and social anxiety, which refers to anxiety and discomfort in social situations.
Scoring
Private self-consciousness is measured by items 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 18, 20, and 22. Public self-consciousness corresponds to items 2, 6, 11, 14, 17, 19, and 21. Social anxiety is measured by items 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 23. Each subscale is scored by summing or averaging the corresponding responses.
Analysis and Use of Data
The data can be used for research in personality psychology, for the study of the relationship between self-consciousness and social anxiety, as well as for assessments in research or clinical contexts with adolescents and adults.
References
Fenigstein, A., Scheier, M. R., & Buss, A. H. (1975). Public and private self-consciousness: Assessment and theory. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 43, 522–527.
Scheier, M. F., & Carver, C. S. (1985). The self-consciousness scale: A revised version for use with general populations. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 15(8), 687–699.
Abrams, D. (1988). Self-consciousness scales for adults and children: Reliability, validity, and theoretical significance. European Journal of Personality, 2, 11–37.
Higa, C. K., Phillips, L. K., Chorpita, B. F., & Daleiden, E. L. (2008). The Structure of Self-Consciousness in Children and Young Adolescents and Relations to Social Anxiety. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 30(4), 261–271.