Analysis

The Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA) is used to assess self-conscious emotions such as shame, guilt, pride, and satisfaction. These emotions are related to self-perception and social evaluation, and they can significantly influence a person’s behavior and psychological well-being.

Purpose

The main purpose of the TOSCA is to measure the intensity and extent of self-conscious emotions experienced by an individual, as well as their impact on behavior.

Calibration

The TOSCA includes items that are usually rated on a 5- or 7-point Likert scale, where 1 means “strongly disagree” and 5 or 7 means “strongly agree.” The items are designed to examine self-conscious emotions across different situations and scenarios. The overall score is derived from the average rating of the items corresponding to each emotion.

References

Tangney, J. P., & Dearing, R. L. (2002). Shame and Guilt. Guilford Press.
Tangney, J. P., Wagner, P., & Gramzow, R. (1992). The Test of Self-Conscious Affect (TOSCA). George Mason University.
Tangney, J. P., & Fischer, K. W. (1995). Self-Conscious Emotions: The Psychology of Shame, Guilt, Embarrassment, and Pride. Guilford Press.
Ferguson, T. J., & Stegge, H. (1998). The influence of shame and guilt on self-evaluation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(1), 11–21.
Kaufman, G. (1996). The Psychology of Shame: Theory and Treatment of Shame-Based Syndromes. Routledge.