Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale – Chinese Version

Description

Evaluation fear is also a major factor affecting social anxiety (Rapee & Heimberg, 1997; Weeks, Heimberg, & Rodebaugh, 2008a). Evaluation fear is divided into negative evaluation fear and positive evaluation fear. Negative evaluation fear refers to the worry and fear of negative or adverse evaluations from others, while positive evaluation fear refers to the worry and fear regarding positive evaluations from others (Liu Yang, Zhang Dajun, 2010). However, confirmatory factor analysis has found that these two types of evaluation fear are mutually independent structures with differences between them. Thus, researchers proposed the Bivalent Fear of Evaluation Model (BFOE) (Weeks et al., 2008), which has received substantial research verification (Cook et al., 2018). Socially anxious individuals simultaneously possess both negative and positive self-images; those who fear positive evaluations tend to minimize the positive aspects of their self-image, whereas those who fear negative evaluations maximize the negative aspects of their self-image (Weeks, 2014; Weeks et al., 2008; Yap et al., 2016). According to psychological evolutionary theory, individuals with stronger social anxiety perceive themselves as lower in a hierarchically organized social environment, with their ultimate goal being a stable middle position, thereby avoiding upward or downward mobility within social hierarchy. Both types of evaluation fear serve as forces regulating this position (Gilbert, 2002). Specifically, the social elevation implied by positive valuation may raise others’ standards and expectations of oneself, yet the individual does not believe they can meet these expectations. On the other hand, positive evaluations may intensify competition and conflict with others, thus triggering anxiety (Weeks & Zoccola, 2016). Therefore, the goal of positive evaluation fear may be to avoid leaving “too good” an impression. Conversely, negative evaluation fear can result in a downward shift in social ranking, ultimately leading to exclusion and isolation from the group. Consequently, individuals worry about and fear negative evaluations and may engage in cognitive or behavioral strategies to avoid negative evaluations occurring (Felmingham et al., 2016; Piccirillo et al., 2015). Thus, although these two types of evaluation fear are closely related, they are essentially distinct; therefore, in this study, the two types of evaluation fear are viewed as mutually independent structures.

Authors and Contact Email

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Purpose

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Test Year

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Administration Method and Scoring

The Fear of Positive Evaluation Scale (FPES), developed by Weeks et al. (2008), includes 10 items, of which 2 are reverse-scored. It utilizes a 10-point scoring system, ranging from 0 (not at all applicable) to 9 (very applicable). The two reverse-scored items are used to help detect response bias and are not included in the total score. A higher score reflects a higher level of fear of positive evaluation.

Reliability and Validity

This scale has demonstrated good reliability and validity among university students and socially anxious patients (Fergus et al., 2009; Weeks et al., 2008) and has also received good reliability and validity verification results in Chinese university student samples (Wu Suhong, 2012). The revised FPES by Zhong Youjie et al. (2011) has an internal consistency coefficient of 0.78, indicating good reliability and validity, proving suitable for the Chinese university student population.

Factors and Subscales

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Keywords

Evaluation Fear, Social Anxiety, Positive Evaluation Fear, Internal Consistency, University Students

Items in Chinese

1. 即使我认为我的才华会使他人印象深刻，但向他人展示我的才华会使我感到不舒服。
2. 当我得到我所欣赏的人的赞美时，我通常会焦虑不安。
3. 我会尽量选择那些让我在别人眼里看起来不太起眼的衣服。
4. 当我得到来自权威人士的赞扬时，我通常感觉不安。
5. 如果我觉得大家会对我说的内容感兴趣，我就会说出来。
6. 我更喜欢别人私下赞扬我，而不是在众人面前赞扬我。
7. 如果我在他人面前出色的完成某事，我通常会怀疑自己是不是做的”太好了”。
8. 当别人表扬我时，我通常感觉不舒服。
9. 我不喜欢在公共场合引起他人的注意，尽管我觉得那时的我好像被人所赏识。
10. 我经常感到自己被人所低估，所以我希望人们能够就我的优点做出更多的评价／赞扬。

Items in English

1. Even though I think my talents would impress others, showing my talents to others makes me feel uncomfortable.
2. When I receive praise from someone I admire, I usually feel anxious.
3. I try to choose clothes that make me appear less noticeable to others.
4. When I receive compliments from authority figures, I usually feel uneasy.
5. If I think everyone would be interested in what I say, I will speak up.
6. I prefer to be praised privately rather than publicly.
7. If I perform excellently in front of others, I usually doubt whether I did “too well.”
8. When others praise me, I usually feel uncomfortable.
9. I do not like to draw attention to myself in public, even though I feel I am appreciated at that time.
10. I often feel underestimated by others, so I hope people can give more recognition/praise for my strengths.

References

钟佑洁,张进辅.大学生评价恐惧在自尊与社交焦虑间的中介效应分析[J].心理发展与教育,2011,27(05):506-512.DOI:10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2011.05.002.
黄海娇.评价恐惧对异常进食行为的影响：自我损耗的中介作用[D].广州大学,2023.DOI:10.27040/d.cnki.ggzdu.2023.001035.
曹呈旭,七十三,金童林,等.自尊与宠辱不惊：社会面子意识的中介作用[J].中国临床心理学杂志,2023,31(06):1405-1409.DOI:10.16128/j.cnki.1005-3611.2023.06.022.