THE SELF-POSSESSION SCALE: PSYCHOMETRIC FEATURES AND PERSPECTIVES OF APPLICATION

The article describes the development and validation of a new measure called the Self-Possession Scale. The evidence for the factor structure and psychometric properties of the test is presented in the three series of studies with data from a sample of 678 subjects (325 males and 353 females) aged 16-68 (M=30.32, SD = 10.86). Cluster, exploratory, and confirmatory factor analysis verified the three-factor solution: 1) personal self-possession (i.e., the ability to maintain moderation and composure in circumstances of everyday life); 2) eventual self-possession (i.e., the ability to maintain fortitude in difficult or unpredictable life situations); 3) existential self-possession (i.e., the ability to achieve harmony between oneself and the outside world in all circumstances). It was shown that the Self-Possession Scale shows good discriminatory power, internal reliability and test-retest reliability, and demonstrates the predicted correlations with total scores on questionnaire "Style of Behavior Self-Regulation" by V.I. Morosanova, Self-Determination Scale by K. Sheldon and E. Deci, Self-Monitoring Scale by M. Snyder, Self-Control Scale by J. Tangney, R. Baumeister and A. Boone, Self-Control Subscale from the questionnaire of volitional self-control by A.G. Zverkov and E.V. Eydman. We described the procedure of introducing the filler items for the correction of the social desirability, previously measured Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding by D. Paulhus. The results provide support for the Self-Possession Scale as a valid and reliable scale for measuring self-possession, which can be used in scientific and practical purposes, including the situations with high social desirability (e.g., when applying for a job, in the competitive selection, etc.).