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Individual Style of Competitive Activity

Individual Style of Competitive Activity Test

Understand how an athlete manages emotions and focus in attempt-based events in 5 minutes. Use the 22 quick items to tailor coaching, build stability, and boost performance when each round counts.

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Questions: 225 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

25,009 views

2,859 completions

2,558 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

4/12

Internal Orientation (IO)

Measures the degree to which an athlete focuses on their own internal state and self-regulation during competitive attempts.

Low internal focus

Moderate internal focus

High internal focus

0 – 4: Low internal focus | 5 – 8: Moderate internal focus | 9 – 12: High internal focus

A score of 4 indicates a low internal orientation, suggesting attention is less consistently directed toward monitoring and regulating one’s own state during competition.

example score

6/12

External Orientation (EO)

Measures the extent to which an athlete focuses on external factors such as opponents, tactics, and competition conditions during performance attempts.

Low external focus

Balanced external focus

High external focus

0 – 4: Low external focus | 5 – 8: Balanced external focus | 9 – 12: High external focus

A score of 6 indicates a balanced tendency to consider opponents and conditions without letting external circumstances dominate decision-making.

example score

8/9

Explosive Emotional Regulation (EER)

Measures the tendency for competition emotions to fluctuate between surges and downturns, affecting consistency of self-control under pressure.

Stable

Variable

Explosive

0 – 3: Stable | 4 – 6: Variable | 7 – 9: Explosive

A score of 8 falls in the Explosive range, suggesting pronounced emotional swings that can disrupt consistency but may also help mobilize effort in critical moments.

example score

2/11

Stable Emotional Regulation (SER)

Measures the degree to which an athlete maintains a steady, even emotional state during round-by-round competition without sharp mood swings.

Low smoothness

Moderate smoothness

High smoothness

0 – 3: Low smoothness | 4 – 7: Moderate smoothness | 8 – 11: High smoothness

A score of 2 falls in the Low smoothness range, suggesting emotions may fluctuate more across attempts and may be less consistently regulated during competition.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Coaches in attempt sports

41%OF USERS

They use it to spot how athletes handle pressure and what goals drive their performance, then adjust training and competition routines.

Individual event athletes

35%OF USERS

They take it to understand their emotional control and competitive focus across separate attempts like jumps, throws, or lifts.

Sport psychologists and support staff

24%OF USERS

They apply it as a quick check to guide mental skills work, motivation planning, and pre-competition preparation for athletes.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
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Statistical
Comparison

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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.

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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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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.

"Internal" orientation ("o)

Average

7.5

Normal range

5.4 — 9.6

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.

"External" Orientation ("O)

Average

5.1

Normal range

3 — 7.3

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.

"Explosive" emotional regulation ("er)

Average

Normal range

2.7 — 5.2

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.

"Smooth" emotional regulation ("er)

Average

Normal range

2.9 — 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 emotional regulation during competition and the primary performance orientation used in repeated-attempt events.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for athletes in sports where each attempt is a separate performance opportunity, such as jumping, throwing, and weightlifting.

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

Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. It includes 22 questions.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best matches typical behavior in competition, not an ideal response. Answer all items without spending excessive time on any single question.

How are results used in training and competition planning?

Results can guide work on emotional stability, motivation, and pre-performance routines. They can also support adjustments to preparation based on the dominant orientation profile.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Individual Style of Competitive Activity Test - Symptoms and Signs

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This self-report measure is used to characterize an athlete’s approach to competition, particularly in formats where performance occurs in discrete attempts or rounds. The Individual Style of Competitive Activity provides a brief profile of individual differences that may be relevant to competitive behavior and performance under evaluative conditions.

The questionnaire includes 22 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Content focuses on patterns of emotional regulation during competition and the athlete’s predominant goal orientation (e.g., task/standard-based versus comparison-based emphasis). Results are intended to support formulation and training-planning discussions by identifying areas that may warrant targeted mental skills work.

In applied sport psychology settings, the Individual Style of Competitive Activity may be used to monitor shifts in competitive style over time and to guide individualized interventions while integrating with other clinical and performance-relevant information. The version referenced here is attributed to R. S. Lazarus.

Author: R. S. Lazarus

Literature: Martens, R., Vealey, R. S., & Burton, D. Competitive anxiety in sport. Human Kinetics. 1990.

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