The Coopersmith SelfEsteem Inventory (CSEI) An Adult Version
This scale is designed for an assessment of individual’s global selfesteem.
Read each of the following statements; check the “like me” column if it describes how you
usually feel and the “unlike me” column if it does not describe how you usually feel.
Like me Unlike me
______ ______ 1. I spend a lot of time daydreaming.
______ ______ 2. I’m pretty sure of myself.
______ ______ 3. I often wish I were someone else.
______ ______ 4. I’m easy to like.
______ ______ 5. My family and I have a lot of fun together.
______ ______ 6. I never wo
y about anything.
______ ______ 7. I find it very hard to talk in front of a group.
______ ______ 8. I wish I were younger.
______ ______ 9. There are lots of things about myself I’d change if I could.
______ ______ 10. I can make up my mind without too much trouble.
______ ______ 11. I’m a lot of fun to be with.
______ ______ 12. I get upset easily at home.
______ ______ 13. I always do the right thing.
______ ______ 14. I’m proud of my work.
______ ______ 15. Someone always has to tell me what to do.
______ ______ 16. It takes me a long time to get used to anything new.
______ ______ 17. I’m often so
y for the things I do.
______ ______ 18. I’m popular with people my own age.
______ ______ 19. My family usually considers my feelings.
______ ______ 20. I’m never happy.
______ ______ 21. I’m doing the best work that I can.
______ ______ 22. I give in very easily.
______ ______ 23. I can usually take care of myself.
______ ______ 24. I’m pretty happy.
______ ______ 25. I would rather associate with people younger than me.
______ ______ 26. My family expects too much of me.
______ ______ 27. I like everyone I know.
______ ______ 28. I like to be called on when I am in a group.
______ ______ 29. I understand myself.
______ ______ 30. It’s pretty tough to be me.
______ ______ 31. Things are all mixed up in my life.
______ ______ 32. People usually follow my ideas.
______ ______ 33. No one pays much attention to me at home.
______ ______ 34. I never get scolded.
______ ______ 35. I’m not doing as well at work as I’d like to.
______ ______ 36. I can make up my mind and stick to it.
______ ______ 37. I really don’t like being a man/woman.
______ ______ 38. I have a low opinion of myself.
______ ______ 39. I don’t like to be with other people.
______ ______ 40. There are many times when I’d like to leave home.
______ ______ 41. I’m never shy.
______ ______ 42. I often feel upset.
______ ______ 43. I often feel ashamed of myself.
______ ______ 44. I’m not as nicelooking as most people.
______ ______ 45. If I have something to say, I usually say it.
______ ______ 46. People pick on me very often.
______ ______ 47. My family understands me.
______ ______ 48. I always tell the truth.
______ ______ 49. My employer or supervisor makes me feel I’m not good enough.
______ ______ 50. I don’t care what happens to me.
______ ______ 51. I’m a failure.
______ ______ 52. I get upset easily when I am scolded.
______ ______ 53. Most people are better liked than I am.
______ ______ 54. I usually feel as if my family is pushing me.
______ ______ 55. I always know what to say to people.
______ ______ 56. I often get discouraged.
______ ______ 57. Things usually don’t bother me.
______ ______ 58. I can’t be depended on.
Scoring
The test has a built in “lie scale” to help determine if you are trying too hard to appear to have
high selfesteem.
If you answered “like me” to three or more of the following items, retake the test with an eye
toward being more realistic in your responses: 1, 6, 13, 20, 27, 34, 41, 48.
To calculate your score, add up the number of times your responses match those given below.
To determine how your level of selfesteem compares to that of others, find the value closest to
your score in the table.
Like me: Items 2, 4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 28, 29, 32, 36, 45, 47, 55, 57
Unlike me: Items 3, 7, 8, 9, 12, 15, 16, 17, 22, 25, 26, 30, 31, 33, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44,
46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 56, 58
Men Women
33 32 Significantly below average
36 35 Somewhat below average
40 39 Average
44 43 Somewhat above average
47 46 Significantly above average
Source:
Ryden, M. B. 1978. An adult version of the Coopersmith SelfEsteem Inventory:
Testretest reliability and social desirability.
Psychological Reports 43:1189–1190. Copyright © 1978 Muriel Ryden.
(Dr. Ryden’s scale is a modified version of a scale developed by Dr. Stanley Coopersmith
to measure selfesteem in children. Dr. Ryden’s version is designed to be used with adults.)
CMS 100 Module 2 Lecture
Being an effective communicator means that you are other-oriented ("person-centered" is another
term that is used). Before a person can truly become other-oriented, they must first possess a lot of
accurate self-understanding. This seems counter-intuitive...that in order to be other-oriented, you must
first be self oriented?! But if you don't first have an accurate self-concept, you will not really know how
you come across to others or how to design messages that will be effective in terms of whatever social
goals are at hand. Beyond thinking about your self-concept is thinking about your self-esteem. As your
textbook authors say, "self-esteem" is the overall value we assign to ourselves. I am sure it is no surprise
to you that self-esteem directly impacts how you communicate with others. Note the important social
and cultural forces that contribute to your self-esteem: gender, sexual orientation, and culture. Many
times, these factors distort our true self-worth, and we end up doing or being less than we should...and
this also is reflected in our communication with others and even with ourselves (for example, all those
negative things we say to ourselves that really are not at all true).
Finally, the very end of this chapter...is KEY! We cannot emphasize enough to you how important this
section on perception and perception-checking is in terms of further development of your
communication competence and critical thinking. Your authors call attention to what perception is and
eview the process of perception. Are you really interested in becoming a better communicator? Then
pay close attention to the reading in this module for lots of good information and tips on improving your
communication skills.
Now, on to ve
al communication. This reading teaches us about the nature of ve
al messages as a
primary tool for human communication and elevates our awareness of words that we use. Your authors
state that language "is symbolic, is governed by rules, conveys meaning, and is intertwined with
culture.” The language we use is symbolic...the letters we use and how we put them together to form
words are representative of what we MEAN. The symbols by themselves are rather ambiguous...the
symbol "C-A-T" could conjure up a number of images (both positive and negative) in your mind. But if I
put that symbol in context with other symbols, my meaning becomes a little more clear: "My CAT’s
name is Fluffy. He is so cute! OR Due to my allergies, please get that CAT away from me now!” So you
see, the meanings of symbols reside in PEOPLE, not the symbols themselves You can increase your
ve
al communication skills by creating messages that adhere to the cooperative principle, and by using
I and WE language.
People, through language, create and negotiate meaning. That's why the connotative meanings of
words often have more power than the denotative meanings. In terms of connotative and denotative
meanings of words, words are powerful in terms of the subjective and emotional meanings that are
manifested in those using those words. The point about language and culture being intertwined is also
interesting and important. Think about how, at the very beginning of one's life, parents spend an
inordinate amount of time thinking about what to name you...your name is important...it is the symbol
for you! Your parents no doubt thought carefully about what to name you and chose your name based
on some kind of positive feeling toward that symbol (your name). Think also of names you do not like.
Why don't you like those names? Why do those names conjure up negative feelings? Maybe from past
experiences, stereotypes you hold, and/or associations you might make?
Obviously, the way we talk to one another in relationships has the power to build that relationship, or
destroy it. I think you will find this chapter and the additional resources in this module quite interesting!