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Free Will and Determinism Plus Scale (FAD-Plus)

Free Will and Determinism Plus Scale (FAD-Plus) Test

Understand how you view free will and determinism in just 5 minutes. Get a nuanced 27 item profile that supports work on motivation, responsibility, and counseling goals.

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Questions: 275 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

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

23,172 views

1,962 completions

1,681 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/5

Scientific Determinism (SD)

Measures the extent to which a person believes that human actions are determined by scientific laws and causal factors rather than free choice.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.3: Low | 2.4 – 3.6: Moderate | 3.7 – 5: High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate belief in scientific determinism, suggesting a balanced tendency to attribute behavior to causal factors without fully dismissing personal agency.

example score

3/5

Unpredictability (U)

Measures the extent to which a person views life events and outcomes as inherently unpredictable and difficult to understand or anticipate.

More predictable worldview

Mixed/neutral

More unpredictable worldview

1 – 2.4: More predictable worldview | 2.5 – 3.5: Mixed/neutral | 3.6 – 5: More unpredictable worldview

A score of 3 indicates a moderate belief in unpredictability, suggesting a balanced view where the world is sometimes seen as hard to foresee but not consistently chaotic.

example score

3/5

Fatalistic Determinism (FD)

Measures the extent to which a person believes life events and personal outcomes are governed by fate or inevitable forces beyond individual control.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.4: Low | 2.5 – 3.5: Moderate | 3.6 – 5: High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to view outcomes as partly shaped by fate, alongside some room for personal influence.

example score

4/5

Free Will (FW)

Measures the extent to which a person believes human choices are genuinely free and meaningful.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.4: Low | 2.5 – 3.4: Moderate | 3.5 – 5: High

A score of 4 indicates a high endorsement of human freedom, suggesting you tend to view personal choices as real and impactful.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-improvement seekers

41%OF USERS

They want to understand how much they see their life as driven by personal choice versus circumstances to improve motivation, habits, and accountability.

Students of psychology

34%OF USERS

They take it for coursework or projects to explore how beliefs about free will and determinism relate to behavior, responsibility, and moral judgments.

Counseling and coaching clients

25%OF USERS

They use it to clarify whether they feel in control or constrained, helping shape realistic goals and strategies for change.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

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Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

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Recommendations

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Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Scientific determinism (Sd)

Average

3.2

Normal range

2.7 — 3.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Unpredictability (U)

Average

Normal range

3.3 — 4.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Fatalistic Determinism (FD)

Average

3.6

Normal range

2.9 — 4.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Freedom (F)

Average

2.1

Normal range

1.4 — 2.8

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures beliefs about whether actions are chosen freely, determined by prior causes, or shaped by both. It provides separate scores for different belief components rather than a single yes-or-no result.

How should statements be rated?

Select the response that best reflects agreement with each statement. Use the full range of options when appropriate, and avoid choosing the same option for all items.

Can a person endorse both free will and determinism?

Yes, both beliefs can be endorsed at the same time. The scoring is designed to capture mixed or nuanced views.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. The questionnaire contains 27 statements.

How should the results be interpreted?

Scores describe tendencies in worldview beliefs and do not indicate mental health status or diagnosis. Results are best interpreted alongside the purpose of the assessment and other relevant information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Belief in Freedom/Determinism, FAD-Plus Test

Free Will and Determinism Plus Scale (FAD-Plus) Test - Symptoms and Signs

subjectivity beliefs

This instrument assesses individual differences in beliefs about human agency and causal determinism. The Free Will and Determinism Plus Scale (FAD-Plus) uses self-report ratings to characterize how strongly a respondent endorses concepts related to free will, determinism, and related attitudes. It is commonly used in research settings and may also inform clinical case formulation when beliefs about personal control and responsibility are relevant.

The measure consists of 27 items and typically requires about 5 minutes to complete. It yields a profile of belief endorsements rather than a single global construct, supporting interpretation of nuanced or mixed viewpoints. The Free Will and Determinism Plus Scale (FAD-Plus) is often administered alongside other measures of motivation, attribution, and moral cognition to contextualize responses (Vohs).

Author: Kathleen D. Vohs, roy-f-baumeister

Literature: Paulhus, D. L., & Carey, J. M. The FAD-Plus: Measuring lay beliefs regarding free will and related constructs. Journal of Personality Assessment. 2011.

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