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Adolescent Dominant Motivation Assessment3

Adolescent Dominant Motivation Assessment Test

Understand what drives a teen’s choices and behavior in about 6 minutes. Get clear, actionable insight to tailor support, communication, and intervention to what matters most right now.

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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

17,545 views

1,929 completions

1,502 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

11/20

Spiritual and Moral Motivation (SaMM)

Measures the extent to which a teenager’s choices are guided by internal values, moral principles, and meaningful emotional attachments.

Lower orientation

Moderate orientation

Higher orientation

0 – 6: Lower orientation | 7 – 13: Moderate orientation | 14 – 20: Higher orientation

A score of 11 indicates a moderate spiritual-moral orientation, suggesting values and ethical ideals influence decisions alongside other motives.

example score

2/20

Egocentric (E)

Measures the extent to which a teenager prioritizes personal goals and self-interest in decisions and interactions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 2 falls in the Low range, suggesting the teenager is currently less focused on personal gain and more likely to consider factors beyond their own immediate interests.

example score

9/20

Hedonistic (H)

Measures the extent to which a teenager is motivated by seeking pleasure and comfort while avoiding unpleasant experiences.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 9 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant tendency to prioritize enjoyable and comfortable experiences.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

School psychologists and counselors

41%OF USERS

They use it to quickly understand what drives a teen and to choose an effective support or behavior-change strategy.

Teachers and homeroom advisors

34%OF USERS

They take it to improve communication, motivation in learning, and classroom management by matching approaches to what matters most to the teen.

Youth social workers

25%OF USERS

They use it to tailor prevention and intervention plans by spotting whether a teen is driven more by pleasure, self-interest, or values.

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.

Spiritual and moral (Sam)

Average

11.4

Normal range

8.1 — 14.7

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.

Egocentric (E)

Average

6.2

Normal range

2.9 — 9.5

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.

Hedonistic (H)

Average

6.9

Normal range

3.5 — 10.4

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.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

In the questionnaire, indicate what you think about today’s youth (including yourself), the present, and the future. Below are statements related to 30 questions. For each question, select one of the three statements that most closely reflects your viewpoint.

- a) Yes; giving up this side of life would greatly diminish it.
- b) Casual romances are good only when they are pleasurable.
- c) Short-term relationships bring only disappointment.
- No one would disagree with that.
- Such entertainment offers a person very little.
- Some people enjoy that kind of leisure, and some do not.
- a) Yes; living for work means not knowing how to enjoy life.
- b) It is important to enjoy life, but work is also necessary.
- c) Lazy people invented the idea of “abnormal” workaholics.

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

Adolescent Dominant Motivation Assessment Test - Symptoms and Signs

motivation

morality

This self-report questionnaire is designed to clarify motivational priorities that may influence adolescents’ choices and behavior. The Adolescent Dominant Motivation Assessment evaluates the relative prominence of pleasure/avoidance motives, self-focused goal motives, and values-based or relational motives.

The measure contains 30 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete. Respondents indicate which statements best reflect their current motivations, and results are interpreted as a profile of dominant motivational orientation; clinical use should consider developmental context and other assessment data.

The Adolescent Dominant Motivation Assessment is commonly referenced in relation to motivational theory described by Edward L. Deci and Richard M. Ryan and may be used to inform case conceptualization, intervention planning, or research on adolescent motivation.

Author: Edward L. Deci, Richard M. Ryan

Literature: Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annual Review of Psychology. 2002.