Collective Self-Esteem (CSE & CSE-R) Scale

Abstract

The Collective Self-Esteem (CSE) Scale, developed by Luhtanen and Crocker in 1992, is a widely used psychometric instrument designed to measure an individual’s evaluation of their social identity. It assesses the component of self-esteem derived from membership in various social groups.

The scale is typically administered in two primary forms: the general CSE, which refers to “social groups” broadly, and the CSE-R (Revised or Race/Ethnicity specific), which focuses on specific racial or ethnic group membership. The instrument is foundational in research related to intergroup relations, group dynamics, and the psychology of identity, specifically measuring four underlying dimensions: Membership Esteem, Public Collective Self-Esteem, Private Collective Self-Esteem, and Importance to Identity.

Keywords

Collective Self-Esteem, Social Identity, Group Membership, Self-Esteem, Group Dynamics, Social Psychology, Psychometrics, Identity Importance, Race, Ethnicity.

Authors

Robyn Luhtanen, Jennifer Crocker.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the CSE Scale is to provide researchers with a reliable and valid measure of the affective and cognitive aspects of an individual’s evaluation of their own social groups. This evaluation, termed collective self-esteem, recognizes that a significant portion of an individual’s overall self-esteem is tied to the perceived value, status, and desirability of the groups they belong to.

The scale allows for the differentiation between various facets of group evaluation, enabling detailed analysis of how individuals internalize both their personal feelings about their group and their perception of how the group is viewed by outsiders. The CSE-R adaptation further allows for specific examination of highly salient group memberships, such as racial or ethnic groups, which are critical in studies of discrimination and intergroup bias.

Construct

The scale measures Collective Self-Esteem (CSE), which is defined as the aspect of the self-concept that derives from an individual’s knowledge of their membership in a social identity group, coupled with the value and emotional significance attached to that membership. Luhtanen and Crocker (1992) theorized CSE as a multi-dimensional construct, distinguishing it from general personal self-esteem.

The CSE Scale is composed of four distinct, but correlated, dimensions, with each dimension measured by four items (two positive and two reverse-scored):

• Membership Esteem: Reflects the individual’s personal evaluation of their worthiness and contribution as a member of the group.
• Private Collective Self-Esteem: Measures the individual’s private feelings and satisfaction regarding the group.
• Public Collective Self-Esteem: Assesses the individual’s perception of how others (out-groups) evaluate their group.
• Importance to Identity: Captures the degree to which group membership is central and important to the individual’s definition of self.

Validity

The original research by Luhtanen and Crocker (1992) established the initial construct validity of the CSE Scale through confirmatory factor analysis, confirming the theoretical four-factor structure. Subsequent validation studies have supported the discriminant validity, demonstrating that CSE is related to, but distinct from, personal self-esteem and general measures of group identification.

Criterion validity has been demonstrated through the scale’s ability to predict behaviors and attitudes relevant to group processes, such as in-group bias, reactions to perceived discrimination, and motivation to maintain group harmony. Adaptations, such as the CSE-R and specific racial versions (Tom, 2006), have shown robust validity across diverse samples, particularly in studies examining racial identity and minority group experiences.

Reliability

The CSE Scale demonstrates strong internal consistency, which is a key measure of psychometric properties. Typical Cronbach’s alpha coefficients generally range from 0.75 to 0.90 across the four subscales, and often higher for the overall scale total. The original validation study provided strong evidence of reliability for all four dimensions.

Test-retest reliability has also been established, indicating the stability of collective self-esteem scores over time, particularly when the individual’s status within or relationship to the relevant social group remains constant. This consistency confirms that the scale provides a dependable measurement of the underlying construct.

Factor Analysis

The scale was developed based on a four-factor orthogonal model derived from both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis conducted by Luhtanen and Crocker (1992). This structure requires that the 16 original items load specifically onto the four distinct dimensions: Membership Esteem, Private Collective Self-Esteem, Public Collective Self-Esteem, and Importance to Identity.

Each of the four subscales consists of four items, which are balanced between positively and negatively (reverse) worded statements. This structure is intentional to minimize acquiescence bias. The factor structure has proven to be stable and replicable across diverse populations and types of social groups, confirming the theoretical delineation between internal evaluations (Private and Membership Esteem) and external perceptions (Public Esteem and Importance).

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: 16-item scale (plus optional additional items); 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (“strongly disagree”) to 7 (“strongly agree”).

Language Available: English (Original); various translations used in cross-cultural research.

Population Group: General population; utilized extensively with students, racial/ethnic minority groups, and various social organizations.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 16+).

Population Details: Applicable to any individual who identifies with one or more salient social groups. The CSE-R is specifically targeted toward individuals defining themselves by race or ethnicity.

Test Methodology: Summing or averaging items within each of the four subscales after reverse-scoring appropriate items. Higher scores indicate higher levels of the specific dimension of Collective Self-Esteem.

Keywords

Group Identity, In-group Bias, Intergroup Relations, Measurement, Membership Esteem, Private Self-Esteem, Public Self-Esteem, Identity Centrality.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not specified in source data.

Affiliation Email addresses: Contact information typically available through the original authors’ institutional websites.

Correspondence Address: Refer to original publication: Luhtanen, R., & Crocker, J. (1992). A collective self-esteem scale: Self-evaluation of one’s social identity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(3), 302-318.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1992 (Original publication).

Permissions: The CSE Scale is generally considered a public domain research instrument for academic use, though proper citation of the original Luhtanen & Crocker (1992) paper is required. Specific adaptations, such as those related to racial groups, should also cite the relevant secondary authors.

Fee: Typically free for non-commercial academic research use.

Online Resource: Further details regarding the instrument, including scoring instructions, can often be found on the authors’ academic lab websites. The original instrument can be found at: http://faculty.psy.ohio-state.edu/crocker/lab/cse.php#3.

Reference’s

• Luhtanen, R., & Crocker, J. (1992). A collective self-esteem scale: Self-evaluation of one’s social identity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(3), 302-318.

• Leonardelli, G. G., & Brewer, M. B. (2001). Minority and majority discrimination: When and why. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 37, 468-485.

• Tom, David M. (2006). Effects of perceived discrimination: rejection and identification as two distinct pathways and their associated effects. Ohio State University. PhD dissertation. The dissertation is available here: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1135887227.

Items of the Collective Self-Esteem (CSE & CSE-R) Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

The scoring format is a 7-point Likert scale:

• 1=strongly disagree
• 2=moderately disagree
• 3=somewhat disagree
• 4=neutral
• 5=somewhat agree
• 6=moderately agree
• 7=strongly agree

CSE (General Social Groups)

1. I am a worthy member of the social groups I belong to.
2. I often regret that I belong to some of the social groups I do.
3. Overall, my social groups are considered good by others.
4. Overall, my group memberships have very little to do with how I feel about myself.
5. I feel I don’t have much to offer to the social groups I belong to.
6. In general, I’m glad to be a member of the social groups I belong to.
7. Most people consider my social groups, on the average, to be more ineffective than other social groups.
8. The social groups I belong to are an important reflection of who I am.
9. I am a cooperative participant in the social groups I belong to.
10. Overall, I often feel that the social groups of which I am a member are not worthwhile.
11. In general, others respect the social groups that I am a member of.
12. The social groups I belong to are unimportant to my sense of what kind of a person I am.
13. I often feel I’m a useless member of my social groups.
14. I feel good about the social groups I belong to.
15. In general, others think that the social groups I am a member of are unworthy.
16. In general, belonging to social groups is an important part of my self image.

CSE-R (Race/Ethnic Group Specific)

1. I am a worthy member of my race/ethnic group.
2. I often regret that I belong to my racial/ethnic group.
3. Overall, my racial/ethnic group is considered good by others.
4. Overall, my race/ethnicity has very little to do with how I feel about myself.
5. I feel I don’t have much to offer to my racial/ethnic group.
6. In general, I’m glad to be a member of my racial/ethnic group.
7. Most people consider my racial/ethnic group, on the average, to be more ineffective than other groups.
8. The racial/ethnic group I belong to is an important reflection of who I am.
9. I am a cooperative participant in the activities of my racial/ethnic group.
10. Overall, I often feel that my racial/ethnic group is not worthwhile.
11. In general, others respect my race/ethnicity.
12. My race/ethnicity is unimportant to my sense of what kind of a person I am.
13. I often feel I’m a useless member of my racial/ethnic group.
14. I feel good about the race/ethnicity I belong to.
15. In general, others think that my racial/ethnic group is unworthy.
16. In general, belonging to my race/ethnicity is an important part of my self image.

Adopted Items (Tom, 2006) – Black Race Specific

1. I am a worthy member of the Black race.
2. I often regret that I am Black. (R)
3. Overall, Blacks are considered good by others.
4. Overall, being Black has very little to do with how I feel about myself. (R)
5. I feel I don’t have much to offer to the Black community. (R)
6. In general, I’m glad to be Black.
7. Most people consider Blacks, on the average, to be more ineffective than other social groups. (R)
8. Being Black an important reflection of who I am.
9. I am a cooperative participant in the Black community.
10. Overall, I often feel that being Black is not worthwhile. (R)
11. In general, others respect Black individuals.
12. Being Black is unimportant to my sense of what kind of person I am. (R)
13. I often feel I’m a useless member of the Black community. (R)
14. I feel good about the Black race.
15. In general, others think that Blacks are unworthy. (R)
16. In general, being Black is an important part of my self-image.

Ingroup Satisfaction Items (Adapted by Leonardelli & Brewer, 2001) – Black Race Specific

17. I am pleased to be a member of the Black race.
18. The Black race is not satisfying to me.
19. I am unhappy with the Black race.
20. I am satisfied with the Black race.

Additional Items (Tom, 2006) – Asian Race Specific

21. I am pleased to be a member of the Asian race;
22. The Asian race is not satisfying to me (reverse scored);
23. I am unhappy with the Asian race (reverse scored);
24. I am satisfied with the Asian race.