DFalse Self Scale – Relationships with Other Christians (FSSRWOC-6)

Introduction

The False Self Scale – Relationships with Other Christians (FSSRWOC-6) is a brief self-report instrument designed to assess the extent to which individuals present an inauthentic or “false” self in their relationships with other Christians. The scale evaluates the tendency to suppress genuine thoughts, emotions, or beliefs in order to gain acceptance, avoid rejection, or conform to perceived religious expectations. It is primarily used in the psychology of religion, pastoral counseling, and studies of spiritual well-being and interpersonal authenticity.

Description

The FSSRWOC-6 consists of six items that assess key aspects of false-self behavior in Christian relationships, including:

  • Concealing genuine thoughts and emotions.
  • Conforming to perceived religious expectations.
  • Fear of rejection or judgment by other Christians.
  • Difficulty expressing personal struggles or doubts.
  • Authenticity in faith-based relationships.

Items are typically rated using a Likert-type response scale, with higher scores indicating greater false-self presentation.

Purpose

The FSSRWOC-6 is designed to:

  • Assess authenticity in relationships with other Christians.
  • Measure false-self behaviors within religious communities.
  • Examine the relationship between authenticity, spirituality, and psychological well-being.
  • Support research in the psychology of religion and pastoral care.
  • Evaluate interventions that promote authentic interpersonal relationships.

Administration

The questionnaire is self-administered and generally requires 2–5 minutes to complete. It is suitable for adolescents and adults participating in Christian communities, churches, educational settings, and research studies.

Scoring

Each item is scored according to the response scale, and scores are summed or averaged to produce a total score. Higher scores indicate greater false-self behavior, suggesting that individuals are more likely to suppress their authentic thoughts or feelings in relationships with fellow Christians.

Interpretation

Higher FSSRWOC-6 scores reflect lower interpersonal authenticity and greater concern about acceptance or evaluation within Christian communities. Lower scores indicate greater openness, authenticity, and congruence between personal beliefs and outward behavior in religious relationships.

Statistical Analysis

The psychometric evaluation of the FSSRWOC-6 commonly includes:

  • Descriptive statistics.
  • Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha).
  • Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (EFA/CFA).
  • Test–retest reliability.
  • Convergent and discriminant validity.
  • Correlation and regression analyses.
  • Group comparisons (t-test, ANOVA).

These analyses are used to evaluate the reliability and validity of the scale across different Christian populations.

Applications

The FSSRWOC-6 is widely used in:

  • Psychology of religion.
  • Pastoral psychology.
  • Spiritual well-being research.
  • Christian counseling.
  • Personality and interpersonal relationship studies.
  • Faith-based community research.

Advantages

  • Brief and easy to administer.
  • Focuses on authenticity within Christian relationships.
  • Suitable for both research and pastoral settings.
  • Useful for examining the links between spirituality, identity, and interpersonal functioning.

Limitations

As a self-report instrument, responses may be influenced by social desirability, religious norms, denominational differences, and cultural context. Results should be interpreted alongside complementary measures of spirituality, religious commitment, and psychological well-being.

References

Krause, N. (2002). Exploring the Stress-Buffering Effects of Church-Based Social Support.

Hall, T. W. (2004). Christian Spirituality and Mental Health: A Relational Spirituality Framework.

Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2003). On Assimilating Identities to the Self: A Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Internalization and Integrity within Cultures.

Kernis, M. H., & Goldman, B. M. (2006). A Multicomponent Conceptualization of Authenticity: Theory and Research.