The personality correlates of public and private self-consciousness from aFive-Factor perspective

The purpose of this study was to examine the personality correlates of private and public self-consciousness from a Five-Factor perspective, comparing the results obtained using simple as opposed to partial correlational techniques. Previous research has not controlled for the significant inter-correlation between public and private self-consciousness. This may have produced spurious results. Research participants completed the Self-consciousness Scale (Fenigstein, Scheier, & Buss, 1975) and the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992). Both simple and partial correlation revealed a significant relationship between public self-consciousness and Neuroticism. Private self-consciousness was significantly correlated with Neuroticism, Openness and Agreeableness (negatively). However, when the effect of public self-consciousness was controlled through partial correlation, the relationship between private self-consciousness and Neuroticism was nonsignificant. This suggests the relationship between private self-consciousness and Neuroticism is spurious.