What Are the Different Types of Self-Esteem Scales?

Psychologists, researchers, and individuals use self-esteem scales to determine how a person views him or herself. Two of the most well-known self-esteem scales are the Coopersmith self-esteem inventory, which is geared towards children and adults separately, and the Rosenburg self-esteem scale, which is based on the Coopersmith. The Fleming-Courtney scale provides an overall look into a person’s view of him or herself, as well as sub-scores to determine other factors of self-esteem. The Adult Source of Self-Esteem scale (ASSEI) is a set of two tests that help to determine how important different self-esteem factors are to a person and how the person feels he or she measures up to these expectations.

The Coopersmith self-esteem inventory is a set of 25 questions that are answered with one of two choices: like me or unlike me. There are two sets of questions, one for eight- to 18-year olds and one for adults. This scale was developed in 1967 and then revised in 1981, and it is one of the most widely used self-esteem scales in psychological research. It is also commonly used in therapy settings as an evaluation tool.

In 1965, Dr. Manny Rosenburg, in his book Society and the Adolescent’s Self Image, developed the Rosenburg self-esteem scale. The scale consists of 10 questions which are answered with strongly agree, agree, disagree, or strongly disagree. Each answer is assigned a value, with the highest possible score on the test being 30 points. Along with the Coopersmith inventory, this self-esteem scale is one of the most widely used among researchers.

Unlike the Coopersmith and Rosenburg self-esteem scales which only offer a single score per individual, the Fleming-Courtney scale is scored with overall points and sub-scores in factors that may or may not affect one’s self-esteem. The test is made up of 36 questions, in which an individual rates each statement on a scale of one to seven, with one being very often and seven being almost never. Outside of quantifying a person’s overall confidence, this scale also rates a person’s view on his or her physical appearance and abilities. It also provides scores for academic abilities, self-regard, and social confidence.

The ASSEI is a two-part self-esteem scale that is considered one of the best tests for individual evaluation, although it is only occasionally used by researchers. Each of the two tests include 20 questions or statements. The first portion of the test goes through several different traits believed to be associated with high self-esteem and asks the person to rate how important these traits are to him or her. The second 20 questions measure how a person views himself or herself in regard to the traits that are important to him or her. These self-esteem scales are commonly used as a self-evaluation tool in therapy.