A portrait of your character, not a verdict.
63 statements based on Nancy McWilliams' psychoanalytic model. Twelve minutes, anonymous, and you get a written profile to keep.
Character as a way of coping
In Nancy McWilliams' psychoanalytic model, character is understood not as a set of symptoms, but as a personal strategy for adapting to the world. The test does not look for disorders. It shows how you have come to cope with anxiety, protect self-esteem and build relationships.
How a score is read
- Not manifest
- Score below 3.5Few answers match the description. It is shown for context and may help in understanding other people.
- Moderate
- Score from 3.5 to below 6.5Some answers match the description. Worth seeing what feels familiar and what does not.
- Pronounced
- Score from 6.5 to below 8.5Many answers match. The description may fit a habitual way of coping, at least in some situations.
- Dominant
- Score 8.5 and aboveMost answers match the description. It may reflect a habitual way of coping in most situations.
A score is your average agreement with seven statements, rescaled to 0-10. The four bands are cut-offs chosen by this project, not clinical levels. This questionnaire does not assess the level of personality organisation.
Nine character styles
Each style is a way of handling anxiety, protecting self-esteem and staying close to people. Most of us carry several.
Sensitivity to evaluation
The King in the Looking Glass
I am either the best or nothing.
The narcissistic style is about self-esteem and what keeps it steady. Recognition, achievement and comparison with other people carry a lot of weight. Criticism, or simply an average result, can bring shame or a feeling of emptiness. The style has a wide ordinary range, from healthy ambition to a painful dependence on approval. A match with this description does not mean a personality disorder.
How it works
About 12 minutes from start to finish.
Answer
Rate 63 statements from "strongly disagree" to "absolutely". Your answers are kept in your browser as you go, so you can pause.
Score
Each of the nine styles gets a score from 0 to 10, based on seven statements.
Read
You get a chart, a ranked summary and a detailed description of every style, at a private link you can save.
Ready when you are.
No account, no email. The questionnaire is for self-reflection, has not been clinically validated, and does not give a medical diagnosis.
Take the test