The Multifaceted Nature of Self-Consciousness: Conceptualization, Measurement, and Consequences

Abstract

The present work involves the reconceptualization of self-consciousness as a multifaceted process. In the first study, subjects were asked to freely describe the contents of their thoughts when thinking about themselves. Content analyses resulted in the definition of specific categories of self-consciousness which were found to overlap partly with basic dimensions ofthe self-concept. In the second study, a valid and reliable self-report questionnaire of selfconsciousness was developed, comprising fourteen separate factors. In the third study, different patterns of self-consciousness were found to be associated with depression, anxiety, self-disclosure, and loneliness. The theoretical and empirical implications of conceptualizing self-consciousness as a multiple-content phenomenon are discussed.Over the past several years considerable attention has been devoted to the study of individual differences in dispositional self-consciousness and their role in mediating psychological functioning. Fenigstein, Scheier and Buss defined Self-Consciousness as the habitual tendency to be aware of covert self-aspects. and to +'This research is based on a doctoral dissertation submitted by Elisheva Ben-Artzi to Bar-Dan University. Portions of this work were presented at the 1993 meeting of the Israeli Psychological Association in Ramat-Gan, Israel. 17"be in touch with oneself," and developed a self-report scale-the Self-Consciousness Scale (SCS)-that taps private and public aspects of selfconsciousness [1]. Private self-consciousness refers to self-reflection, heightened self-knowledge, and awareness of one's own conceptions, beliefs, emotions and drives [2]. Public self-consciousness refers to the awareness of the self as a social object, and describes the habitual tendency to be aware of others' perspectives of the individual's own self [3].Although both private and public self-consciousness have been found to affect emotions, cognitions, and behaviors [1,4-9], considerably more attention has been devoted to the investigation of the implications of private self-consciousness. Specifically, studies demonstrate associations between private self-consciousness and heightened depression [10-13] and anxiety [12,14], internal causal attribution [15], intensified emotional responses [16, 17], increased accuracy in selfperception [18-23], heightened self-disclosure [24-26], lower loneliness [24, 25], enhanced tendency to cognitive failures [27], increased altruism [28], and a closer match between self-reports of aggression and actual aggressive behavior [29,30]. Moreover, people who are privately SC are more likely to regard themselves as independent and autonomous, and to behave in accord with their private beliefs [31].Despite the extensive interest in the psychological outcomes of selfconsciousness, little theoretical and empirical effort has been spent in the conceptualization of this personality tendency, which along the last two decades has been regarded as a simple, two-dimensional construct lacking any basic content or structura...

Factor Structure of the Private Self-Consciousness Scale: Role of Item Wording

“…Exploratory factor analyses (EFAs) for the Hebrew version of the full SCS conducted with data obtained from several samples of hundreds of participants have replicated the three-factor structure reported for the original version (Ben-Artzi & Hamburger, 2001, 194 participants;Ben-Artzi, Mikulincer, & Glaubman, 1995, 303 participants;Haetzni, 2001, 652 participants;Jaimovich, 1992, 186 participants;Schwimmer, 1988, 240 participants). Adequate evidence for construct validity was reported for the Hebrew version of the PrSC, which was found to correlate positively with depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Ben-Artzi et al, 1995), differentiations of emotions (Jaimovich, 1999), neuroticism (Ben-Artzi & Hamburger, 2001), expressed em-FACTORS OF THE PRIVATE SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS SCALE pathy (Jaimovich, 1999), and sex (Ben-Artzi et al, 1995) in accordance with results of previous reports. Adequate evidence for construct validity was reported for the Hebrew version of the PrSC, which was found to correlate positively with depression, anxiety, and loneliness (Ben-Artzi et al, 1995), differentiations of emotions (Jaimovich, 1999), neuroticism (Ben-Artzi & Hamburger, 2001), expressed em-FACTORS OF THE PRIVATE SELF-CONSCIOUSNESS SCALE pathy (Jaimovich, 1999), and sex (Ben-Artzi et al, 1995) in accordance with results of previous reports.…”

“…Translation quality was evaluated by comparing the psychometric properties of the Hebrew version of the SCS with those reported for the original version. Internal consistency levels of the Hebrew version of the PrSC were found to be similar to those of the English version, ranging from .69 to .76 (e.g., Ben-Artzi & Hamburger, 2001;Ben-Artzi et al, 1995;Jaimovich, 1992;Schwimmer, 1988). Internal consistency levels of the Hebrew version of the PrSC were found to be similar to those of the English version, ranging from .69 to .76 (e.g., Ben-Artzi & Hamburger, 2001;Ben-Artzi et al, 1995;Jaimovich, 1992;Schwimmer, 1988).…”

“…It is possible, for example, that the interpretation of the extreme items of the PrSc differs for women and men. Such an attempt was carried out by Ben-Artzi et al (1995) who developed a multifaceted scale of self-consciousness based on the analyses of individuals' free descriptions of their thoughts when thinking about themselves, tapping level of consciousness to different aspects of the self (e.g., social relations, death, missed opportunities). A possible alternative approach to the measurement of self-consciousness is focusing on the different contents of self-consciousness rather than on its different processes as in Fenigstein et al's (1975) conceptualization.…”

“…However, the consistency of the women-to-men ratio across the three samples somewhat reduces, although does not eliminate, the gender-bias threat in this study. The scale was shown to be differentially associated with various constructs such as depression and loneliness (Ben-Artzi et al, 1995). Such an attempt was carried out by Ben-Artzi et al (1995) who developed a multifaceted scale of self-consciousness based on the analyses of individuals' free descriptions of their thoughts when thinking about themselves, tapping level of consciousness to different aspects of the self (e.g., social relations, death, missed opportunities).…”

Self‐Awareness Part 1: Definition, Measures, Effects, Functions, and Antecedents

“…Similarly, one can focus on one’s emotions, thoughts, personality traits, preferences, goals, attitudes, perceptions, sensations, intentions, and so forth. The list of potentially relevant self‐aspects is very long indeed (see Ben‐Artzi, Mikulincer, & Glaubman, 1995). Emotions or traits are private self‐aspects that can be distinguished from public self‐dimensions – visible characteristics such as one’s body, physical appearance, mannerisms, and behaviors (Fenigstein, 1987).…”