Family Emotional Communication Scale Test

In about 6 minutes, it helps clarify how your family of origin shaped emotional bonds and communication. With 30 items, it quickly flags patterns to guide diagnosis and focused therapy goals.
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Questions306 minutes
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08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
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How the Scales are Structured
example score
11/15
Induction of Anxiety (IoA)
Measures the degree to which parents emphasized potential dangers, setbacks, and difficulties, fostering anxious expectations in the child.
Low
Moderate
High
04Low510Moderate1115High
A score of 11 falls in the High range, suggesting recollections of a family atmosphere where potential problems were frequently highlighted, which may have promoted anxious anticipation.
example score
5/9
Family Perfectionism (FP)
Measures the extent to which the family environment emphasized very high standards and a drive for perfection during upbringing.
Low
Moderate
High
03Low46Moderate79High
A score of 5 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some emphasis on high standards in the family without it being a consistently dominant theme.
example score
4/9
Overinvolvement (O)
This scale measures the degree of parental hyper-involvement marked by excessive caretaking, monitoring, and control over the child’s life.
Low
Moderate
03Low49Moderate
A score of 4 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency toward parental over-involvement and control without necessarily being pervasive.
example score
6/9
External Well-Being (EW)
External Well-being measures the tendency of a family to present itself as problem-free by minimizing, hiding, or denying difficulties to others.
Open/realistic presentation
Some image management
Strong concealment tendency
03Open/realistic presentation46Some image management79Strong concealment tendency
A score of 6 suggests a moderate tendency to smooth over or downplay family difficulties in front of others, with some preference for maintaining a positive outward image.
example score
4/9
Negative Focus (NF)
Measures the extent to which the family tended to dwell on negative emotions and become absorbed in each other’s negative moods.
Low fixation
Moderate fixation
High fixation
03Low fixation46Moderate fixation79High fixation
A score of 4 suggests a moderate tendency for the family atmosphere to linger on negative feelings at times, without being consistently dominated by them.
example score
13/18
Elimination of Emotions (EoE)
Measures the degree to which emotional expression—especially negative emotions—was discouraged or suppressed in the family of origin.
Open expression
Mixed messages
Emotion elimination
05Open expression611Mixed messages1218Emotion elimination
A score of 13 falls in the Emotion elimination range, suggesting emotions were often minimized or discouraged, which can be associated with a habit of holding feelings back.
example score
12/21
Criticism (C)
Measures how often a child’s negative emotions or mistakes were met with criticism or comparison to other children in the family.
Low criticism
Moderate criticism
High criticism
04Low criticism510Moderate criticism1121High criticism
A score of 12 falls in the High criticism range, suggesting that expressions of negative emotion or mistakes were often met with criticism or comparison in the family context.
example score
63/90
Overall Family Dysfunction Score (OFDS)
Measures the overall degree of disruption in emotional communication and relational functioning in the family of origin.
Low dysfunction
Moderate dysfunction
High dysfunction
035Low dysfunction3657Moderate dysfunction5890High dysfunction
A score of 63 falls in the High dysfunction range, suggesting more frequent or intense disruptions in family emotional communication that may have shaped current relational patterns.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS
Who Usually Takes This Test?
Therapy-ready self explorers
41%OF USERS
Adults starting or considering therapy who want to understand how their family-of-origin emotional patterns still affect relationships, mood, or self-esteem.
Clients stuck in relationship cycles
34%OF USERS
People noticing repeated conflict, distancing, or people-pleasing in partnerships or friendships who suspect these habits were learned at home.
Adult children of tense homes
25%OF USERS
Adults who grew up with high conflict, silence, criticism, or emotional neglect and want clearer language for what felt “off” in the family atmosphere.
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.
Inducing Anxiety (IA)
Average
7.5
Normal range
5.59.6
min.
0
max.
15
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.
Family Perfectionism (FP)
Average
2.6
Normal range
14.1
min.
0
max.
9
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.
Hypervigilance (H)
Average
2.4
Normal range
0.94
min.
0
max.
9
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.
External Well-being (EW)
Average
2.6
Normal range
1.24
min.
0
max.
9
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.
Fixation on the Negative (FotN)
Average
5.6
Normal range
4.46.8
min.
0
max.
9
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.
Eliminating Emotions (EE)
Average
10.8
Normal range
7.514
min.
0
max.
18
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.
Criticism (C)
Average
13.7
Normal range
10.916.5
min.
0
max.
21
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.
Overall Family Dysfunction Score (OFDS)
Average
48.7
Normal range
35.262.2
min.
0
max.
90
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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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?
It assesses recalled emotional climate and communication patterns in the family of origin. It focuses on how emotions were expressed, responded to, and managed in everyday interactions.
Who should complete it?
It is intended for adults who can reflect on their upbringing in their parental household. It may not be appropriate when recall is significantly impaired or when completing it is expected to cause acute distress.
How long does it take and how many items are included?
Completion time is about 6 minutes. The questionnaire contains 30 items.
How should items be answered?
Answer based on typical patterns rather than isolated events. If uncertain, select the option that best matches what was most common over time.
How are results used in clinical work?
Results help identify interaction areas that may relate to current difficulties and can support case formulation. They can also guide treatment targets for individual or family-focused work.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
Family Emotional Communications, FEC Test

Family Emotional Communication Scale Test

In clinical practice, it is often helpful to clarify how an adult client recalls the emotional climate and interaction patterns in their family of origin. The Family Emotional Communication Scale is a brief self-report measure intended to screen perceived strengths and difficulties in family emotional communication.

The respondent rates statements about family interactions and emotional exchanges, which can support case formulation and guide treatment planning when family-of-origin dynamics are clinically relevant. Developed by John H. Gottman and James A. Coan, the Family Emotional Communication Scale includes 30 items and typically requires about 6 minutes to complete.

Author: James A. Coan, John H. Gottman
Literature: Halberstadt, A. G., Denham, S. A., & Dunsmore, J. C. Affective social competence. Social Development. 2001.
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