Personal Death Metaphors (RDFS) Test

Understand the personal meaning you give to death through images and metaphors in about 4 minutes. Get fast, reliable insight into emotional themes, resources, and risks to guide therapy or research.

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Questions: 184 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

29330 views

3523 completions

3012 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

17/36

Negative Metaphors (NM)

Measures the extent to which a person frames their own death through negative metaphors such as loss, ending, or destruction.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 12: Low | 13 – 24: Moderate | 25 – 36: High

A score of 17 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not dominant tendency to associate one’s own death with negative images like loss or finality.

example score

23/36

Positive Metaphors (PM)

Measures how strongly a person uses positive, accepting metaphors (e.g., transition or liberation) when reflecting on their own death.

Low positive imagery

Moderate positive imagery

High positive imagery

0 – 12: Low positive imagery | 13 – 24: Moderate positive imagery | 25 – 36: High positive imagery

A score of 23 falls in the Moderate positive imagery range, suggesting a generally accepting view of death with positive metaphors present but not dominant.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Self-reflection seekers

41%OF USERS

People who want to understand what story they tell themselves about death and how it shapes their emotions and choices.

Clients in life transitions

34%OF USERS

People going through illness, loss, aging concerns, or major change who want a gentler way to explore end-of-life meaning.

Therapists and researchers

25%OF USERS

Professionals who need a quick, structured tool to discuss death-related attitudes and identify potential resources or risks.

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

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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.

Negative metaphors (Nm)

Average

Normal range

18.6 — 27.4

min.

max.

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.

Positive metaphors (Pm)

Average

19.7

Normal range

14.7 — 24.6

min.

max.

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 test measure?

It assesses the metaphors and images used to represent one’s own death. Results describe the emotional and symbolic meaning attached to the idea of death, including positive and negative themes.

How is the test completed?

Participants reflect on their own death and choose statements or metaphors that best match their response. Items should be answered based on first impressions rather than extended analysis.

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

Estimated completion time is about 4 minutes. The test contains 18 items.

Is this test a measure of fear, depression, or clinical risk?

It is not designed to diagnose mental disorders or measure clinical severity. It describes meaning patterns and may support discussion or hypothesis generation in clinical or research settings.

How should results be interpreted?

Scores are typically summarized as the balance of positive versus negative metaphors and the dominant themes. Interpretation should consider the broader context and should not be used as a standalone conclusion.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Personal Death Metaphors (RDFS) Test

metaphors attitude toward death

Attitudes toward one’s own death can be explored through the metaphoric meanings a person uses to organize thoughts and feelings; Personal Death Metaphors (RDFS) provides a brief, structured way to elicit these themes. The measure asks respondents to consider their own death and endorse metaphors that best reflect their subjective experience.

The instrument consists of 18 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Responses are used to characterize dominant symbolic framings (e.g., death as transition, release, or loss) and the relative valence of these images, which may inform clinical formulation, risk/resource discussions, and research on meaning-making processes around mortality.

Personal Death Metaphors (RDFS) is commonly cited in the meaning reconstruction literature (Neimeyer) and is intended to support exploratory assessment rather than serve as a standalone diagnostic tool.

Author: Robert A. Neimeyer

Literature: Neimeyer, R. A. Death anxiety handbook: Research, instrumentation, and application. Taylor & Francis. 1994.

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