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Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF)

Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF) Test

Understand how in control you feel of your choices and actions in just 3 minutes. Get clear, practical insights to support coaching, counseling, and stronger emotional resilience.

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Questions: 153 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

18,506 views

2,278 completions

1,856 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/5

Susceptibility to Control (StC)

Measures how strongly a person tends to be guided by external or internal pressure rather than self-directed choice.

Low susceptibility

Moderate susceptibility

High susceptibility

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

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to be influenced by pressure or expectations, with a generally balanced level of personal initiative.

example score

3/5

Interest (I)

Interest measures openness to reflecting on one’s experiences and attentiveness to internal and external events that support mindfulness and self-regulation.

Low

Moderate

High

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

A score of 3 indicates a moderate level of interest, suggesting a generally steady but not consistently strong tendency to notice and reflect on experiences.

example score

3/5

Authorship (A)

Authorship (self-congruence) measures how strongly a person experiences their actions and choices as aligned with their own values and beliefs.

Low

Moderate

High

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

A score of 3 indicates a moderate sense of authorship, suggesting your actions are sometimes aligned with your values, with room for greater consistency across situations.

example score

4/5

Autonomous Functioning Index (AFI)

Measures overall personal autonomy, including acting in line with one’s values and interests while resisting external control.

Lower autonomy

Moderate autonomy

Higher autonomy

1 – 2.4: Lower autonomy | 2.5 – 3.6: Moderate autonomy | 3.7 – 5: Higher autonomy

A score of 4 falls in the Higher autonomy range, suggesting a strong tendency to make choices that feel self-congruent and internally motivated rather than driven by external pressure.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Coaching and therapy clients

41%OF USERS

People working with a counselor or coach take it to see how much their choices match their values versus pressure from others.

Burnout and stress strugglers

34%OF USERS

Those feeling drained or overwhelmed use it to check whether they still feel in control of decisions and daily actions.

Motivation and growth seekers

25%OF USERS

Self-improvement minded people take it to understand what drives them and how to strengthen independent, satisfying decision-making.

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.

AI-Powered
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.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
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.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

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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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.

Susceptibility to control (Stc)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2.3 — 3.5

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.

Interest (I)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2.4 — 3.4

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.

Authorship (A)

Average

2.9

Normal range

2.2 — 3.7

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.

Index of Autonomous Functioning (IoAF)

Average

Normal range

3.3 — 4.7

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 perceived autonomy in everyday functioning. It covers self-congruence in action, interest in choices, and resistance to external control.

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

Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. The questionnaire includes 15 items.

How should items be answered?

Each item should be rated based on typical feelings and behavior rather than a single situation. Responses should reflect the option that best fits overall experience.

How should results be interpreted?

Higher scores indicate greater self-endorsed decision-making, stronger interest, and lower susceptibility to external pressure. Lower scores suggest more conflict with personal values or greater influence from external demands.

Can results be used for diagnosis or selection decisions?

Results are not intended to provide a clinical diagnosis on their own. They are best used as part of a broader assessment or as a baseline for monitoring change over time.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF) Test - Symptoms and Signs

autonomy existential psychology self-determination

This measure assesses perceived autonomy in decision-making and behavior. The Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF) is a brief self-report instrument designed to capture the extent to which an individual experiences actions as self-endorsed versus externally driven.

The content is conceptually aligned with self-determination theory and focuses on three facets of autonomy: authorship/self-congruence (acting in accordance with personal values), interest (engagement and enjoyment in one’s choices), and low susceptibility to external control (relative independence from pressure or manipulation). It consists of 15 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete.

In clinical and applied settings, the Index of Autonomous Functioning (IAF) may be used to support case formulation and to monitor perceived autonomy over time in counseling, psychotherapy, or coaching contexts, without serving as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Author: edward-l-deci, richard-m-ryan

Literature: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology. 2008.; Weinstein, N., Przybylski, A. K., & Ryan, R. M. The index of autonomous functioning: Development of a scale of human autonomy. Journal of Research in Personality. 2012.

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