Personality testing
Self-Compassion Scale
In this Semester for Self – Administration only
Introduction
1. Meaning of compassion and self-compassion
2. Self-Compassion Scale by Kristin Neff (2003)
3. Details of the subscales
4. Research findings on self-compassion
a. Self-compassion and mental well-being
b. Self-compassion and emotional intelligence
c. Sex differences in self-compassion
d. Self -compassion construct as a contribution to the growing movement ‘‘positive psychology”
Aim: Administration, scoring and interpretation of Self-Compassion Scale. Students are expected to learn
administration, scoring and interpretation of the scale.
Method:
Sample
Name of the Age Gender Education Emotional state
test taker
Materials
• Self-Compassion Scale by Kristin Neff (attached with this document)
• Stationary
• Screen
Procedure
Experimenter arranges the material and invites participant to the laboratory. The participant was made to sit
comfortably and rapport was established. The following instructions were given.
“Welcome to the Department of Psychology. Today, you will learn something more about yourself. Each of us are
unique as we have different believes, values, attitudes and preferences. We also differ in the way we think and
feel. We also have our own strengths and limitations. In this endeavor to understand yourself. you will be given a
list of statements. Please read each statement carefully before answering. To the right of each item, indicate how
often you behave in the stated manner, using the scale from 1 to 5. Please note 1 means almost never and 5
means almost always. There are no right and wrong responses in this scale. Hence you can answer according to
what you think. It is important to know that you will know more about yourself, only on the basis of your honest
responses. So please respond sincerely and truthfully to these statements. You can take your time to respond but
preferably give the first response that comes to your mind.”
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Experimenter collects the basic demographic details required and hands over a copy of the scale and the necessary
stationary. After the participant completes the test, the experimenter checks whether all items are answered.
Experimenter notes any non-verbal behaviour during the administration of the scale.
Scoring
• Subscale scores are computed by calculating the total score for each item as per the table given below.
• To compute a total self-compassion score, subscale scores are added together, after reverse scoring the
negative subscale items – self-judgement, isolation and over-identification. (Author suggests the total
score can also be calculated by adding up the mean of the subscale scores.)
Self-Kindness Self-Judgment Common
Items: 5, 12, 19, Items: 1, 8, 11, Humanity Items:
23, 26 16, 21 3, 7, 10, 15
Mindfulness Over-identified
Isolation Items:
Items: 9, 14, 17, Items: 2, 6, 20,
4, 13, 18, 25
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Debriefing.
Compassion is often conceptualized as compassion for others. Compassion involves being open to and moved by
the suffering of others, so that one desires to ease their suffering. It is essential to feel com-passion for oneself
as it is for others.
On _______ (date) I had told you to give your answers to a series of statements. That was the Self-compassion
scale. Self-compassion necessitates being kind and understanding toward oneself in occurrences of pain or failure
rather than being insensitive to self or being self-critical.
Being self-compassionate does not entail being selfish or self - centered, nor does it mean that one prioritizes
personal needs over those of other
Self - compassion is not self - pity. It is an attitude which will become a part of one’s personality
Compassion for oneself ensures health and well-being.
It is a useful emotional regulation strategy
Is an important aspect of emotional intelligence
Self-compassionate individuals show better mental health outcomes
The scale measures three main components of self-compassion on separate subscales (self-kindness versus self-
judgment, common humanity versus isolation, and mindfulness versus over-identification), with the intention of
summing the subscale scores to create a total score that would represent a participant’s overall level of self-
compassion.
Reporting scores of the P needs to be added
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We gave the Self-compassion scale to _________ female students of degree college. The Mean score of the
group on the scale was ____. The Range was ______, that is, the highest score was _____ and the lowest score
was ______. The lowest possible score is 26 and the highest possible score is 130. Higher the score, greater is
the person’s tendency to be understanding, patient and tolerant towards their own shortcomings. Your score on
the self-compassion scale was ______. Compared to the average score of _______, your score is ______.
Having high levels of self-compassion is linked to psychological well-being. Individuals with high levels of self-
compassion have an emotionally positive self-attitude. Research identifies that student with higher scores may
focus on mastery rather than performance goals in academic situations.
Having clarity and accuracy in self-appraisal can lead to awareness and acceptance of limitations. However,
people who are unaware about their own emotional experiences may lack self-compassion.
Report writing on the basis of scores
Based on the obtained scores students can interpret the results. Debriefing pointers and information from
introduction can assist the report writing
Follow APA format for the same
References
Gavrilov-Jerković, V., Jovanović, V., Žuljević, D., &Brdarić, D. (2014). When less is more: A short version of the
personal optimism scale and the self-efficacy optimism scale. Journal of Happiness Studies, 15(2), 455-474.
Neff, K. D. (2003). Development and validation of a scale to measure self-compassion. Self and Identity, 2, 223-
250.
HOW I TYPICALLY ACT TOWARDS MYSELF IN DIFFICULT TIMES
Please read each statement carefully before answering. To the right of each item, indicate how often you
behave in the stated manner, using the following scale:
Almost
Almost
Never Always
1 2 3 4 5
1. I’m disapproving and judgmental about my own flaws and inadequacies
2. When I’m feeling down I tend to obsess and fixate on everything that’s wrong.
3. When things are going badly for me, I see the difficulties as part of life that everyone
goes through
4. When I think about my inadequacies, it tends to make me feel more separate and cut
off from the rest of the world
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5. I try to be loving towards myself when I’m feeling emotional pain.
6. When I fail at something important to me I become consumed by feelings of
inadequacy
7. When I'm down and out, I remind myself that there are lots of other people in the
world feeling like I am.
8. When times are really difficult, I tend to be tough on myself.
9. When something upsets me I try to keep my emotions in balance.
10. When I feel inadequate in some way, I try to remind myself that feelings of inadequacy
are shared by most people.
11. I’m intolerant and impatient towards those aspects of my personality I don't like
12. When I’m going through a very hard time, I give myself the caring and tenderness I
need.
13. When I’m feeling down, I tend to feel like most other people are probably happier than
I am
14. When something painful happens I try to take a balanced view of the situation
15. I try to see my failings as part of the human condition
16. When I see aspects of myself that I don’t like, I get down on myself
17. When I fail at something important to me I try to keep things in perspective
18. When I’m really struggling, I tend to feel like other people must be having an easier
time of it.
19. I’m kind to myself when I’m experiencing suffering
20. When something upsets me I get carried away with my feelings.
21. I can be a bit cold-hearted towards myself when I'm experiencing suffering
22. When I'm feeling down I try to approach my feelings with curiosity and openness
23. I’m tolerant of my own flaws and inadequacies
24. When something painful happens I tend to blow the incident out of proportion
25. When I fail at something that's important to me, I tend to feel alone in my failure.
26. I try to be understanding and patient towards those aspects of my personality I don't
like
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