SELF-CONSTRUAL SCALE

What type of person are you in a social setting? Do you prefer to be autonomous or collaborative? Find out here.

INSTRUCTIONS:

This is a questionnaire that measures a variety of feelings and behaviors in various situations. Listed below are a number of statements. Read each one as if it referred to you. Circle the response that best matches your agreement or disagreement.

1 = strongly disagree; 2 = somewhat disagree; 3 = a little disagree; 4 = neither agree or disagree; 5 = a little agree; 6 = somewhat agree; 7 = strongly agree.

SURVEY:

1. I enjoy being unique and different from others in many respects.
2. I can talk openly with a person who I meet for the first time, even when this person is much older than I am.
3. Even when I strongly disagree with group members, I avoid an argument.
4. I have respect for the authority figures with whom I interact.
5. I do my own thing, regardless of what others think.
6. I respect people who are modest about themselves.
7. I feel it is important for me to act as an independent person.
8. I will sacrifice my self interest for the benefit of the group I am in.
9. I’d rather say “No” directly, than risk being misunderstood.
10. Having a lively imagination is important to me.
11. I should take into consideration my parents’ advice when making education/career plans.
12. I feel my fate is intertwined with the fate of those around me.
13. I prefer to be direct and forthright when dealing with people I’ve just met.
14. I feel good when I cooperate with others.
15. I am comfortable with being singled out for praise or rewards.
16. If my brother or sister fails, I feel responsible.
17. I often have the feeling that my relationships with others are more important than my own accomplishments.
18. Speaking up during a class (or a meeting) is not a problem for me.
19. I would offer my seat in a bus to my professor (or my boss).
20. I act the same way no matter who I am with.
21. My happiness depends on the happiness of those around me.
22. I value being in good health above everything.
23. I will stay in a group if they need me, even when I am not happy with the group.
24. I try to do what is best for me, regardless of how that might affect others.
25. Being able to take care of myself is a primary concern for me.
26. It is important to me to respect decisions made by the group.
27. My personal identity, independent of others, is very important to me.
28. It is important for me to maintain harmony within my group.
29. I act the same way at home that I do at school (or work).
30. I usually go along with what others want to do, even when I would rather do something different

SCORING:

There are two subscales:

The independent subscale: Q1, Q2, Q5, Q7, Q9, Q10, Q13, Q15, Q18, Q20, Q22, Q24, Q25, Q27, and Q29

The interdependent subscale: Q3, Q4, Q6, Q8, Q11, Q12, Q14, Q16, Q17, Q19, Q21, Q23, Q26, Q28, and Q30

To calculate subscale scores, take the average by adding the answers to each subscale’s items and dividing this sum by the number of items in the subscale (15).

A higher score for one of the two subscales indicates whether you emphasize autonomy and individualism or collaboration and social harmony.

Source: Singelis, T. M. (1994). The measurement of independent and interdependent self-construals. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 20(5), 580–591