Being first: development and initial validation of the firstness orientation scale

Abstract Background People may obtain the same product as everyone else and still feel discomfort that someone got there first: a reaction that is neither fear of missing out, since nothing was missed, nor envy, since only timing differs. This article introduces Firstness Orientation, the value placed on attaining temporal priority over one’s reference group and the responses to gaining or losing it, and Fear of Not Being the First, its aversive side. We ask whether it is distinct and measurable. Methods Two studies with Turkish adults. Study 1 ( N = 259) examined a 36-item pool by parallel analysis and principal axis factoring. Study 2 ( N = 299, independent) evaluated that structure by confirmatory factor analysis on polychoric correlations, compared competing representations including a bifactor model, tested invariance across gender, assessed discriminant and incremental validity against five established instruments, and modeled item characteristics with a graded response model. Results A strong general factor accompanied by three distinct facets emerged, Firstness-Based Self-Enhancement, Firstness-Related Apprehension, and Emotional Distress From Losing Temporal Priority, and the 11-item measure was supported in the independent sample, was invariant across gender, and placed most reliable variance on the general factor. All heterotrait-monotrait ratios fell below the conservative threshold, including those against fear of negative evaluation, and the measure explained incremental variance in status consumption beyond the rival constructs but not impulsive buying. Modeled as orthogonal residuals, only the appetitive facet retained an independent association with the criteria, and the apprehension items sit higher on the continuum. Conclusions Firstness Orientation is distinguishable from its measured neighbors and is best scored as a total, with facet scores secondary. The findings fit an appetitive-centered interpretation, in which the aversive components reflect the loss of the rewards of temporal priority, better than a fear-centered one. Replication and independent behavioral criteria remain necessary.