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Differential Emotions Scale (DES)3

Differential Emotions Scale (DES) Test

Understand your current emotional profile in about 6 minutes. A quick 30 item check that pinpoints nuanced, mixed feelings to guide support and next steps.

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Questions: 306 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

16,850 views

1,615 completions

1,261 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

25/45

Anxious Depressive Emotions Index (ADEI)

TDAM reflects the intensity of a relatively stable anxiety–depressive emotional pattern shaping one’s subjective appraisal of the current situation.

Low

Moderate

High

9 – 20: Low | 21 – 30: Moderate | 31 – 45: High

A score of 25 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of anxiety–depressive emotional tone at the moment.

example score

39/60

Negative Emotions (NEM) (NE)

NEM summarizes the overall intensity of acute negative emotions being experienced in the current situation.

Low

Moderate

High

12 – 24: Low | 25 – 32: Moderate | 33 – 60: High

A score of 39 falls in the High range, suggesting a relatively elevated level of negative emotional response right now.

example score

32/45

Positive Emotions Index (PEI)

Assesses the intensity of positive emotional attitude toward the current situation.

Low

Moderate

High

9 – 19: Low | 20 – 28: Moderate | 29 – 45: High

A score of 32 falls in the High range, indicating a relatively strong positive emotional orientation toward the current situation.

example score

10/15

Guilt (X) (G)

Measures the current intensity of guilt related to perceived responsibility for a moral or ethical wrongdoing.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of guilt at the moment.

example score

9/15

Shame (IX) (S)

Measures the current intensity of shame related to perceived mismatch with personal or social standards.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of shame right now.

example score

10/15

Fear (VIII) (F)

Measures the current intensity of fear in response to perceived potential threat or danger.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 10 indicates a moderate level of fear, suggesting noticeable but not overwhelming threat-related tension at the moment.

example score

8/15

Contempt (VII) (C)

Measures the current intensity of contempt, reflecting negative evaluation or distancing toward others due to perceived mismatched values, views, or behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 8 indicates a moderate level of contempt, suggesting some noticeable negative distancing or critical appraisal toward others in the current moment.

example score

10/15

Disgust (VI) (D)

Measures the current intensity of disgust in response to things perceived as violating one’s moral, ideological, or aesthetic standards.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 10 indicates a moderate level of disgust, suggesting noticeable aversion that may influence how certain situations or stimuli are experienced right now.

example score

6/15

Anger (A)

Measures the current intensity of anger as a negative emotional response to perceived obstacles or frustration.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 6 falls in the Low range, suggesting relatively mild anger at the moment.

example score

9/15

Grief (IV) (G)

Measures the current intensity of grief-related emotional distress linked to perceived loss or blocked vital needs.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of grief-related emotional strain right now.

example score

13/15

Surprise (III) (S)

Measures the current intensity of surprise in response to sudden or unexpected events, reflecting a brief attentional shift that can transition into interest.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 13 indicates high surprise, suggesting a strong immediate orienting response to something unexpected that may momentarily override other emotions and draw focused attention.

example score

7/15

Joy (J)

Measures the current intensity of joy related to experiencing a positive outcome or satisfaction of a need.

Low joy

Moderate joy

High joy

3 – 7: Low joy | 8 – 11: Moderate joy | 12 – 15: High joy

A score of 7 indicates low current joy, suggesting limited positive uplift or satisfaction at the moment.

example score

7/15

Interest (I) (I)

Measures the current intensity of interest as a positive emotion linked to curiosity, learning, and engagement.

Low

Moderate

High

3 – 7: Low | 8 – 11: Moderate | 12 – 15: High

A score of 7 indicates low current interest, suggesting limited curiosity or engagement at the moment.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-awareness seekers

41%OF USERS

People who want a quick snapshot of what they’re feeling right now, especially when emotions are mixed or hard to name.

Therapy and coaching clients

34%OF USERS

Clients using the test before or during sessions to clarify their emotional state and track changes after stressful events.

Helping professionals

25%OF USERS

Psychologists, coaches, and counselors who use it to map a client’s emotional profile and guide next steps in support.

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

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

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.

TDAM (anxious) (T()

Average

29.4

Normal range

24.7 — 34

min.

max.

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.

NEM (Negative) (N()

Average

40.5

Normal range

33.8 — 47.3

min.

max.

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.

PEM (positive) (P()

Average

25.2

Normal range

19.3 — 31

min.

max.

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.

Guilt (X) (G()

Average

6.9

Normal range

5.4 — 8.4

min.

max.

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.

Shame (IX) (S()

Average

7.6

Normal range

6.2 — 9.1

min.

max.

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.

Fear (VIII) (F()

Average

6.3

Normal range

4.7 — 7.8

min.

max.

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.

Contempt (VII) (C()

Average

10.3

Normal range

8.3 — 12.2

min.

max.

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.

Disgust (VI) (D()

Average

11.9

Normal range

10.2 — 13.6

min.

max.

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.

Anger (V) (A()

Average

9.7

Normal range

7.6 — 11.8

min.

max.

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.

Grief (IV) (G()

Average

Normal range

10.2 — 13.7

min.

max.

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.

Surprise (III) (S()

Average

10.9

Normal range

9.2 — 12.6

min.

max.

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.

Joy (II) (J()

Average

7.4

Normal range

5.7 — 9

min.

max.

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.

Interest (I) (I()

Average

6.4

Normal range

4.7 — 8.1

min.

max.

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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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

You will be presented with a list of adjectives that describe different shades of a person’s emotional experiences. Please rate the extent to which each of the listed experiences applies to you at the present time. Do not spend too much time deciding on an answer; your first impression is usually the most accurate.

- Experience is completely absent
- Experience is slightly present
- Experience is moderately present
- Experience is strongly present
- Experience is present to the greatest extent
- Experience is completely absent
- Experience is present to a slight degree
- Experience is present to a moderate degree
- Experience is present to a strong degree
- Experience is present to the maximum degree
- Experience is completely absent
- Experience is present slightly
- Experience is present moderately
- Experience is present strongly
- Experience is present to the maximum degree

These are 3 of the 30 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Differential Emotions Scale (DES) Test - Symptoms and Signs

emotional state

Emotional experiences can be difficult to differentiate in day-to-day life. The Differential Emotions Scale (DES) is a brief self-report measure designed to assess the current intensity of discrete emotions.

The instrument includes 30 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Respondents rate the extent to which specific emotion descriptors reflect their present feelings, yielding an emotion profile that can support clinical formulation and monitoring of change over time.

The Differential Emotions Scale (DES) may be used in clinical or research settings to characterize affective states and to track shifts in emotion following stressors or interventions. Results should be interpreted in context and alongside other clinical information rather than as a standalone diagnostic indicator.

Author: Carroll E. Izard

Literature: Kahneman, D., Diener, E., & Schwarz, N. (Eds.). Well-being: The foundations of hedonic psychology. Russell Sage Foundation. 1999.; Izard, C. E. Human emotions. Plenum Press. 1977.