Inventory of Self-Concepts

Abstract

The Inventory of the Self-Concepts (ISC) is a psychological measure primarily developed by J. J. Sherwood to assess an individual’s self-concept, self-identity, and the internal importance assigned to various personal attributes. Designed using a Semantic Differential format, the instrument requires respondents to rate themselves on a continuum between several bipolar adjective pairs (e.g., Competent–Incompetent). Crucially, the ISC structure allows for the measurement of two distinct dimensions: the individual’s perceived current self-identity and their aspired or ideal self-identity. Furthermore, it incorporates a mechanism to gauge the subjective importance, or “coreness,” of each trait to the individual’s overall self-evaluation, allowing researchers to calculate discrepancy scores between the actual and ideal self.

Keywords

Self-concept, Self-identity, Self-actualization, Psychological measurement, Semantic differential, Congruence, Personality assessment, Social psychology

Authors

J. J. Sherwood, John P. Robinson, Phillip R. Shaver

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Inventory of the Self-Concepts is to provide a quantitative assessment of how individuals perceive their own traits and characteristics, both presently and ideally. This instrument is particularly valuable in research related to theories of self-actualization and personal change, as it allows for the examination of the gap between the perceived self (where one is) and the aspired self (where one wishes to be). By measuring the importance of each trait, the scale can pinpoint areas of high psychological investment or conflict.

The structure encourages deep introspection, leading the respondent first to locate their current position on a spectrum of bipolar traits and then to evaluate the significance of these traits to their total sense of self. This dual focus supports investigations into how self-perceptions influence behavior, social interaction, and overall psychological adjustment.

Construct

The ISC measures the psychological construct of the Self-Identity, broken down into three core components: the perceived self, the aspired self, and the importance (or coreness) of the attribute. The underlying theoretical framework is rooted in humanistic psychology, particularly concepts related to self-actualization and congruence, suggesting that psychological health is correlated with a smaller discrepancy between the perceived self and the ideal self.

The instrument provides several derived scores, including measures of congruence (the difference between perceived and aspired ratings) and a measure of self-evaluation based on the collective ratings. The ability to customize three additional items (27-29) allows for the inclusion of characteristics that are uniquely important or salient to the individual respondent, enhancing the measure’s ecological validity.

Validity

While specific detailed validity studies (e.g., construct, convergent, or discriminant validity coefficients) are not explicitly provided in the excerpt, the scale’s foundation rests on assessing concepts central to social psychological research of the mid-20th century. The inclusion in comprehensive measures compilations, such as those published by the Institute for Social Research (ISR), suggests it possesses reasonable face and content validity for its intended purpose of measuring self-perception dimensions.

In research contexts, the ISC has been utilized to validate theoretical propositions concerning self-identity shifts following experimental interventions. The discrepancy score, which is a key output of the scale, serves as a crucial metric for evaluating the effectiveness of programs aimed at improving self-regard or promoting self-actualization, thereby providing evidence for criterion-related validity.

Reliability

The source content provides quantitative data related to the scale’s internal consistency or test-retest reliability, likely reported as correlation coefficients (r) for both Experimental and Control groups within a study context. These coefficients demonstrate acceptable to strong reliability for a psychological measure of this type.

• Aspired self-identity: (.62 for Experimental group, .84 for Control group)
• Self-identity (Perceived): (.61 for Experimental group, .82 for Control group)
• Importance (“coreness”): (.55 for Experimental group, .78 for Control group)
• Self-evaluation (discrepancy measure): (.47 for Experimental group, .75 for Control group)

These figures generally indicate that the scale maintains stable measurements, especially within the Control group, where coefficients approach the high .70s and .80s. The slightly lower figures in the Experimental group, particularly for the discrepancy measure (.47), may reflect actual psychological change or variance introduced by the experimental manipulation, rather than inherent instability of the instrument itself. These psychometric properties confirm its utility in research settings.

Factor Analysis

Specific details regarding an exploratory or confirmatory factor analysis of the Inventory of the Self-Concepts are not provided in the source material. However, given the nature of the bipolar items, it is highly probable that the instrument was developed to capture several underlying dimensions of the self-concept, such as competence, social skills, emotional stability, and moral character. Researchers using similar semantic differential scales often expect factors related to Evaluation (good/bad), Potency (strong/weak), and Activity (active/passive).

The design, which includes items ranging from “Competent” to “Affectionate” to “Moral,” strongly suggests a multi-dimensional structure. Future research or the original unpublished dissertation by Sherwood (1962) would likely contain the specific factor structure supporting the aggregation of these 26 core items into meaningful subscales.

Instrument

Test Type: Psychometrics, Self-Report Inventory, Semantic Differential Scale

Format: Bipolar adjective pairs rated on an implied continuum (likely an 11-point scale based on the visual layout) for two dimensions: current self-perception and importance.

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: General population, primarily used with students and adults in experimental social psychological settings.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 18+)

Population Details: The scale was developed and initially validated within the context of university research, often involving student populations at the University of Michigan, focusing on identity formation and self-actualization processes.

Test Methodology: Respondents first rate themselves on 26 fixed bipolar scales (and three user-defined scales) to establish their current self-identity. They may also be asked to rate their ideal or aspired self on the same scales. Subsequently, respondents rate the importance (“coreness”) of each item to their total self-evaluation using an 11-point ordinal scale (0 to 10).

Keywords

Self-identity theory, Discrepancy theory, Coreness, Psychological scale, Sherwood, University of Michigan, Attitude measurement

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not available/Applicable for historical records.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not available/Applicable for historical records.

Correspondence Address: Research associated with the Institute for Social Research (ISR), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was initially developed by J. J. Sherwood in 1962. It was included in the comprehensive volume, Measures of Political Attitudes, edited by Robinson and Shaver in 1969, suggesting it was widely available for academic research use at that time. Given its age and inclusion in publicly accessible academic compilations, the scale is typically used freely for non-commercial research purposes.

The original PDF containing the instrument and associated measures can be downloaded here: https://www.psc.isr.umich.edu/dis/infoserv/isrpub/pdf/Measuresofsocialpsychologicalattitudes_2928_.PDF

Reference’s

The Inventory of the Self-Concepts is primarily documented in the works of J. J. Sherwood and compiled within major resources on social psychological measures.

1. Sherwood‚ J . J . (1962). Self-identity and self-actualization: a theory and research. Unpublished doctoral dissertation‚ University of Michigan.
2. Sherwood‚ J.J. (1965). Self-identity and referent others. Sociometry‚ 28‚ 66-81.
3. Robinson‚ John P.‚ Shaver‚ Phillip R. (1969). Measures of Political Attitudes. Institute for Social Research‚ University of Michigan/. Ann Arbor‚ Michigan.

Items of the Inventory of the Self-Concepts

Section I: Where you presently picture yourself?

• Self-confident __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Lack self-confidence
• Critical of others __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Tolerant of others
• Skillful with others __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Awkward with others
• Reserved __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Talkative
• Value myself high __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Value myself low
• Participant __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Non-participant
• Authoritarian __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Democratic
• Competent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Incompetent
• Non-aggressive __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Aggressive
• Honest __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Dishonest
• Active __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Passive
• Likeable __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Not likeable
• Competitive __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Cooperative
• Insightful about myself __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Lack insight about myself
• Follower __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Leader
• Timid __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Bold
• Moral __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Immoral
• Individualist __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Conformist
• Hostile __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Affectionate
• Tense __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Relaxed
• Unfair __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Fair
• Unintelligent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Intelligent
• Liberal __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Conservative
• Friendly __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Unfriendly
• Independent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Dependent

Section II: How you evaluate your present picture of yourself (Numbered Items)

1. Sensitive to others __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Insensitive to others
2. Self-confident __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Lack self-confidence
3. Critical of others __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Tolerant of others
4. Skillful with others __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Awkward with others
5. Reserved __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Talkative
6. Value myself high __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Value myself low
7. Participant __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Non-participant
8. Authoritarian __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Democratic
9. Competent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Incompetent
10. Non-aggressive __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Aggressive
11. Honest __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Dishonest
12. Active __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Passive
13. Likeable __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Not likeable
14. Competitive __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Cooperative
15. Insightful about myself __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Lack insight about myself
16. Follower __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Leader
17. Timid __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Bold
18. Moral __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Immoral
19. Individualist __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Conformist
20. Hostile __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Affectionate
21. Tense __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Relaxed
22. Unfair __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Fair
23. Unintelligent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Intelligent
24. Liberal __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Conservative
25. Friendly __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Unfriendly
26. Independent __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Dependent

in‎sert your own three ch‎aracteristics of yourself here

Section III: Importance Rating

Place each item number on one of the lines below.

ITEM NUMBER IMPORTANCE FOR TOTAL SELF EVALUATION

• __ __ __ __ __ __10- Extremely important to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __9- Very important to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __8- Quite important to .my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __7- Moderately Important to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __6- Somewhat important to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __5- No strong feelings either way
• __ __ __ __ __ __4- Somewhat unimportant to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __3- Moderately unimportant to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __2- Quite unimportant to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __1- Very unimportant to my total self-evaluation
• __ __ __ __ __ __0- Extremely unimportant to my total self-evaluation

Your total picture of yourself

High __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ Low