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Personality Mental States Inventory (PII)3

Personality Mental States Inventory (PII) Test

In 7 minutes, see which lingering emotional states may be draining your well-being and performance. Quick 36 items deliver clear, actionable insights for counseling, school, or clinical follow-up.

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Questions: 367 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29,010 views

3,354 completions

2,952 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

40/100

Mental States (MS)

This scale measures the overall intensity of persistent negative internal mental states such as loneliness, hostility, inner conflict, and hopelessness.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 33: Low | 34 – 66: Moderate | 67 – 100: High

A score of 40 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not pronounced presence of negative internal states that may affect well-being and functioning.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People feeling stuck

41%OF USERS

They take it to put clear names to ongoing feelings like emptiness, hopelessness, inner conflict, or loneliness that won’t go away.

Clients in counseling

34%OF USERS

They use it at the start of therapy to quickly map persistent negative emotional states and choose what to work on first.

Students under pressure

25%OF USERS

They take it to see which hidden emotional barriers—stress, aggression, meaninglessness, or burnout—may be hurting study and motivation.

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.

Mental States of Personality, PII (MSoPP)

Average

29.1

Normal range

12.1 — 46.2

min.

max.

100

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

The statements below were selected from common, everyday judgments expressed by individuals who experience emotional and personality-related difficulties and for whom group psychological intervention or psychotherapy may be indicated. Read each statement carefully. The statements reflect issues that people would like to clarify in their own lives and to gain a deeper understanding of themselves. Indicate whether each statement expresses a feeling that is characteristic of you or a question you personally would like to work through. Some statements include themes that are repeated elsewhere in the text. Disregard these repetitions and respond as if you were encountering the theme for the first time. Keep in mind that there are no “right” or “wrong” answers to these questions. Treat each statement as fully independent and answer it without reference to the others. Finally, using the response options provided, indicate whether the statement describes the specific problem you personally have to deal with in your life.

- I think exactly this way and would like to work through this area.
- I think this way, but I do not consider this issue especially important for me.
- This does not apply to my life.
- I do not know; it is difficult for me to answer this question.
- This is exactly how I think, and I would like to work through this area.
- I think this way, but I do not consider this issue especially important for me.
- This does not relate to my life.
- I don’t know; it is difficult for me to answer this question.
- I feel this way and would like to work through this area.
- I feel this way, but I do not consider this issue especially important for me.
- This does not apply to my life.
- I do not know; it is difficult for me to answer this question.

These are 3 of the 36 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

Personality Mental States Inventory (PII) Test - Symptoms and Signs

hopelessness

loneliness

hostility

In routine clinical and counseling settings, it can be helpful to efficiently characterize internal experiences that may be interfering with day-to-day functioning. The Personality Mental States Inventory (PII) is a brief self-report measure intended to screen for patterns of distressing or persistent negative mental states.

Respondents complete 36 items in about 7 minutes, endorsing statements that reflect common internal experiences such as loneliness, meaninglessness, inner conflict, irritability or anger, and hopelessness. Scores are typically used to inform clinical formulation, guide interview follow-up, and support monitoring over time, rather than to establish a diagnosis in isolation.

The Personality Mental States Inventory (PII) is commonly incorporated into psychological consultation, educational support contexts, and clinical care to help identify areas of emotional strain that may warrant further assessment. Authors: J. D. Dodson; R. M. Yerkes.

Author: J. D. Dodson, R. M. Yerkes

Literature: Cohen, R. J., & Swerdlik, M. E. Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement. McGraw-Hill. 2001.; Jersild, A. T. When teachers face themselves. Teachers College Press. 1956.