Research Article
Construction and Validation of the Self-Conscious Emotions at Work Scale
Authors:
Hans Groenvynck ,
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organisational Psychology, Ghent University, BE
Let Dillen,
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organisational Psychology, Ghent University, BE
Johnny J.R Fontaine
Department of Personnel Management, Work and Organisational Psychology, Ghent University, BE
Abstract
The present study reports on the construction and validation of a new assessment instrument for self-conscious emotions in the work context, namely the Self-Conscious Emotions at Work Scale (SCEWS). In eight typical self-conscious work scenarios respondents have to indicate their emotional reaction in terms of 20 appraisals, subjective experiences, and action tendencies that are relevant and representative for the domain of self-conscious emotions. In total 512 students and 467 working adults completed the SCEWS and reported the frequency of positive emotions, anger, anxiety and sadness. In both samples a three-factorial structure emerged with a guilt, a shame/humiliation, and an anger in self-conscious situations factor. These three self-conscious emotion factors correlated differentially and in a predicted way with the frequency of emotions. Guilt-proneness was predicted to be psychologically constructive and correlated to the frequency of positive emotions. The proneness to shame/humiliation was expected to relate to internalising psychopathological tendencies, and positively correlated to a frequency of anxiety and sadness. Proneness to anger in self-conscious situations was expected to relate to externalising psychopathological tendencies and correlated with the frequency of anger in general. The present study demonstrates that self-conscious emotions can be validly measured in the work context. The new instrument allows for the systematic study of the role of self-conscious emotions in work and organisational behaviour.
How to Cite:
Groenvynck, H., Dillen, L. and Fontaine, J.J.R., 2011. Construction and Validation of the Self-Conscious Emotions at Work Scale. Psychologica Belgica, 51(3-4), pp.251–274. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/pb-51-3-4-251
Published on
01 Nov 2011.
Peer Reviewed
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