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World Assumptions Scale (WAS) Test

Understand how stress or trauma may have shifted core beliefs about safety, fairness, and self worth in about 6 minutes. Pinpoint 32 key belief areas to guide targeted therapy and support recovery from trauma and depression.
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Questions: 326 minutes
Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.
08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Material has been updated
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Scale Explorer
How the Scales are Structured
example score
5/6
Luck/Fortune (L)
Assesses how strongly a person perceives themselves as generally lucky and favored by circumstances.
Low luck belief
Moderate luck belief
High luck belief
1 – 3: Low luck belief | 3.1 – 5.1: Moderate luck belief | 5.2 – 6: High luck belief
A score of 5 falls in the Moderate luck belief range, suggesting you tend to view yourself as fairly fortunate overall, though not consistently strongly lucky.
example score
3/6
General Belief in the Benevolence of the World (GBitBotW)
Measures overall trust and positive expectations about the surrounding world, integrating beliefs about the benevolence of the world and the kindness of people.
Low trust
Higher trust
1 – 3.6: Low trust | 3.6 – 6: Higher trust
A score of 3 falls in the Low trust range, suggesting a generally cautious or less positive view of the world's and people's kindness.
example score
3/6
Beliefs About Self-Worth (BAS)
Measures belief in one’s own worth, including self-esteem, sense of significance, self-regulation, and perceived luck.
Low
High
1 – 3.5: Low | 3.6 – 6: High
A score of 3 falls in the Low range, suggesting reduced confidence in personal value and self-regulation compared with higher scores.
example score
3/6
General Belief in the Meaningfulness of the World (GBitMotW)
Measures how strongly a person believes that the world is governed by meaningful laws rather than random chance.
Low meaningfulness
High meaningfulness
1 – 3.5: Low meaningfulness | 3.6 – 6: High meaningfulness
A score of 3 indicates a lower tendency to perceive events as meaningfully ordered, with a greater sense that what happens may be arbitrary or hard to explain.
example score
2/6
Benevolence of the World (BotW)
Measures how strongly a person believes the world is generally kind and well-disposed toward them rather than threatening.
Low benevolence
Moderate benevolence
High benevolence
1 – 3.4: Low benevolence | 3.5 – 5.4: Moderate benevolence | 5.5 – 6: High benevolence
A score of 2 falls in the Low benevolence range, suggesting a stronger tendency to perceive the world as unsafe or hostile rather than supportive.
example score
4/6
Benevolence of People (BoP)
Measures how strongly a person believes that people around them are generally kind and act with integrity.
Low trust
Balanced trust
High trust
1 – 3.1: Low trust | 3.2 – 5: Balanced trust | 5.1 – 6: High trust
A score of 4 falls in the Balanced trust range, suggesting a generally cautious but not strongly suspicious view of others’ intentions.
example score
3/6
Justice of the World (JotW)
Measures the extent to which a person believes the world is fair and events follow understandable rules rather than being random and unjust.
Low belief in justice
Moderate belief in justice
High belief in justice
1 – 2.9: Low belief in justice | 3 – 4.9: Moderate belief in justice | 5 – 6: High belief in justice
A score of 3 indicates a moderate belief that the world is generally just and predictable, though this view may not feel fully stable in all situations.
example score
3/6
Controllability of the World (CotW)
Measures how strongly a person believes that life events are predictable and can be influenced through regular patterns or personal actions.
Low controllability
Moderate controllability
High controllability
1 – 3.3: Low controllability | 3.4 – 5: Moderate controllability | 5.1 – 6: High controllability
A score of 3 suggests a low sense of controllability, with events more often perceived as happening unpredictably and being hard to influence.
example score
3/6
Randomness as a Principle (RaaP)
Measures how strongly a person believes that events happen randomly rather than following understandable patterns.
Low randomness
Moderate randomness
High randomness
1 – 2.6: Low randomness | 2.7 – 4.7: Moderate randomness | 4.8 – 6: High randomness
A score of 3 falls in the Moderate randomness range, suggesting you somewhat see events as partly unpredictable while still expecting some regularity.
example score
3/6
Self-Worth (S)
Assesses how strongly a person feels a sense of self-worth and personal significance.
Low self-worth
Moderate self-worth
High self-worth
1 – 3.4: Low self-worth | 3.5 – 5.3: Moderate self-worth | 5.4 – 6: High self-worth
A score of 3 falls in the Low self-worth range, suggesting a reduced sense of personal value and significance relative to this scale.
example score
4/6
Degree of Self-Control (DoS)
Measures the extent to which a person believes they can control their actions and influence events.
Low self-control belief
Moderate self-control belief
High self-control belief
1 – 3.6: Low self-control belief | 3.7 – 5.3: Moderate self-control belief | 5.4 – 6: High self-control belief
A score of 4 falls in the moderate range, suggesting a generally present but not fully stable sense of being able to regulate your actions and affect outcomes.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS
Who Usually Takes This Test?
After trauma or crisis
44%OF USERS
People who have been through a traumatic event or severe stress and want to understand how it changed their sense of safety, trust, and control.
Low mood and depression
33%OF USERS
Those experiencing depression, hopelessness, or emotional numbness who want to identify destructive beliefs that keep them stuck.
Therapy focus and tracking
23%OF USERS
Clients already in therapy who want a quick check of which core assumptions need attention and how they shift over time.
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
What You’ll See After You Finish the Test
Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
AI-Powered
Interpretation
A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.
Practical
Recommendations
Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
AI-Detected
Insights
Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.
Discuss with
an AI Psychologist
Clarify, reflect, and explore right away. Talk through your outcomes, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue environment.
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Used in 52+ countries
Benchmarking
See How You Compare
Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.
Degree of luck/favorability (Dol)
Average
4.6
Normal range
4 — 5.3
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
General Attitude Toward the Kindness of the World (GATtKotW)
Average
3.5
Normal range
2.5 — 4.4
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Belief About One's Own Worth (BAOOW)
Average
2.6
Normal range
1.7 — 3.5
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
General Attitude Towards the Meaningfulness of the World (GATtMotW)
Average
3
Normal range
2.3 — 3.7
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
The Benevolence of the World (TBotW)
Average
4
Normal range
3.2 — 4.8
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
The Kindness of People (TKoP)
Average
3
Normal range
2.4 — 3.7
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Justice of the World (JotW)
Average
4.2
Normal range
3.4 — 4.9
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Controllability of the world (Cotw)
Average
3.3
Normal range
2.5 — 4
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Randomness as a Principle (RaaP)
Average
2.7
Normal range
2 — 3.5
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
The Value of the Self (TVotS)
Average
4.2
Normal range
3.5 — 4.9
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
Degree of self-control (Dos)
Average
2.3
Normal range
1.7 — 2.9
min.
1
max.
6
majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.
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Trusted by 22k+ Users Worldwide
CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?
It measures core beliefs about the world and the self, including safety, fairness, predictability, self-worth, and perceived control. It helps identify which assumptions may have shifted after severe stress or trauma.
Who is this questionnaire intended for?
It is intended for adolescents and adults in clinical or research settings, especially when trauma-related symptoms or depression are being assessed. It can also be used as a baseline measure before and after treatment.
How long does it take and what is the format?
It includes 32 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Responses are given by selecting the option that best matches the respondent’s current view.
How should the items be answered?
Each item should be answered based on current beliefs rather than past beliefs or what seems socially acceptable. If unsure, the closest available option should be selected.
How are results used in practice?
Results highlight belief domains that may be associated with distress and can help guide treatment targets. Scores do not provide a diagnosis and should be interpreted with other clinical information.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
Basic Beliefs Scale, WAS Test

World Assumptions Scale (WAS) Test

depressionirrational beliefscbtptsd

After exposure to significant stress or trauma, an individual’s core beliefs about the self and the world may shift. The World Assumptions Scale (WAS) is a self-report measure designed to assess foundational assumptions such as perceived benevolence and justice of the world, personal worth, and beliefs about control and predictability. It is commonly used to inform clinical formulation and to support research on cognitive appraisals associated with psychological distress.

Developed by R. Janoff-Bulman, the instrument consists of 32 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Results from the World Assumptions Scale (WAS) can help identify domains of disrupted assumptions that may be clinically relevant in presentations involving trauma-related symptoms, depression, or adjustment difficulties, and can be used to guide case conceptualization and treatment planning.

Author: R. Janoff-Bulman
Literature: Janoff-Bulman, R. Shattered assumptions: Towards a new psychology of trauma. Free Press. 1992.; Berry, J. W., Poortinga, Y. H., Breugelmans, S. M., Chasiotis, A., & Sam, D. L. Cross-cultural psychology: Research and applications. Cambridge University Press. 2011.
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