The Development and Validation of the Jonah Complex Inventory: An Action Research on Measuring Fear of Success and Self-Limiting Behavior

Abstract

This study developed and validated the Jonah Complex Inventory (JCI), a culturally grounded tool designed to measure fear of success and self-limiting behaviors among Filipino youth. Rooted in Maslow’s Jonah Complex theory and informed by Philippine collectivist values, the inventory addresses the psychological tension between personal ambition and societal expectations. A total of 450 young adults from Batangas Province participated in this cross-sectional, quantitative study, which employed stratified random sampling. The initial 70-item inventory covered five dimensions: Self-Deprecation, Hesitation and Risk Avoidance, Insignificance, Irrational Views of Past Recollections, and Conformity and Mediocrity. Content validity was established through expert evaluation, and Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) examined construct validity, while Cronbach’s alpha assessed reliability.

Results identified a three-factor structure—Intrapersonal Constraint, Diminished Self-Worth, and Sensitivity to Judgment and Change—with excellent reliability. The refined 55-item JCI is psychometrically sound, culturally relevant, and applicable in educational, industrial, and clinical settings, providing a practical tool for identifying self-limiting behaviors and guiding interventions.