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Personality Orientation in Communication Assessment3

Personality Orientation in Communication Assessment Test

Understand your communication values, goals, and preferred style in about 4 minutes. Get clear insights to improve relationships, teamwork, coaching, and counseling.

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Questions: 204 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

25,133 views

2,392 completions

1,946 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

4/10

Alterocentric Orientation (AO)

Measures the extent to which a person prioritizes a communication partner’s needs and development over their own interests.

Low alterocentrism

Moderate alterocentrism

High alterocentrism

0 – 3: Low alterocentrism | 4 – 6: Moderate alterocentrism | 7 – 10: High alterocentrism

A score of 4 indicates a moderate tendency to focus on the other person’s needs and perspective while still maintaining some attention to one’s own goals in communication.

example score

8/10

Conformist (C)

Measures the tendency to adapt one’s communication stance to others’ opinions and authority, often yielding personal position to maintain alignment.

Independent stance

Situationally compliant

Highly conformist

0 – 3: Independent stance | 4 – 6: Situationally compliant | 7 – 10: Highly conformist

A score of 8 indicates a highly conformist orientation, with a strong tendency to defer to the partner’s view or authority and shift opinions based on circumstances.

example score

4/10

Manipulative Orientation (MO)

Measures the degree to which a person tends to use covert influence or insincere tactics in communication to achieve their own goals.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 4 suggests a moderate level of manipulative orientation, indicating occasional use of indirect influence while not relying on it as a primary communication strategy.

example score

5/10

Authoritarian Orientation (AO)

Measures the extent to which a person tends to dominate and control communication while discounting the partner’s perspective.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 5 indicates a moderate tendency to take a controlling, directive stance in communication, which may sometimes limit openness to the other person’s viewpoint.

example score

4/10

Dialogic Orientation (DO)

Measures the extent to which a person prioritizes equal, respectful, trust-based dialogue aimed at mutual understanding and cooperation in communication.

Low dialogical focus

Moderate dialogical focus

High dialogical focus

0 – 3: Low dialogical focus | 4 – 7: Moderate dialogical focus | 8 – 10: High dialogical focus

A score of 4 indicates a moderate tendency toward ethical, cooperative dialogue, with room to more consistently emphasize mutual trust and equal exchange.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Team leads and managers

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand their communication orientation, reduce friction, and choose a more effective way to influence and coordinate others.

Psychology and education specialists

34%OF USERS

They use it to identify clients’ or students’ communication attitudes and tailor counseling, coaching, or teaching strategies.

People improving relationships

25%OF USERS

They take it to learn why certain conversations go smoothly or badly and to adjust their style with partners, friends, or colleagues.

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.

Alterocentrist (A)

Average

7.3

Normal range

5.8 — 8.8

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Conformist (C)

Average

4.6

Normal range

3 — 6.3

min.

max.

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Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Manipulative (M)

Average

6.6

Normal range

5.3 — 7.9

min.

max.

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.

Authoritarian (A)

Average

3.5

Normal range

1.9 — 5.1

min.

max.

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.

Dialogical (D)

Average

3.7

Normal range

2.4 — 4.9

min.

max.

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

Below are descriptions of possible behaviors in various communication situations. For each situation, please select the option that most closely corresponds to your preferred style of interacting with others (e.g., with friends, acquaintances, etc.). Please respond as honestly as possible. There are no “good” or “bad” answers; it is only important that your responses reflect your own views.

- a clear and firm position
- in agreement with me
- some personal benefit for myself
- involved in addressing work-related matters
- open and willing to accept my help
- I take to heart
- may influence my behavior
- may be of interest
- should not interfere with getting things done
- should not be shown to others
- one that is comfortable for me
- any position; it does not matter
- a leader
- an empathic listener
- one that is comfortable for them

These are 3 of the 20 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 Orientation in Communication, NLO-A Test

Personality Orientation in Communication Assessment Test - Symptoms and Signs

communication style

This measure evaluates an individual’s dispositional orientation toward interpersonal communication, with attention to perceived goals, values, and preferred approaches to interaction. The Personality Orientation in Communication Assessment is intended to help clarify how a person typically frames the purpose and meaning of communication and the strategies they view as acceptable or effective.

The instrument consists of 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Items are generally structured to elicit self-reported preferences and attitudes, which can be used to summarize dominant interpersonal orientations relevant to communication style. The Personality Orientation in Communication Assessment has been attributed to Paul T. Costa Jr. and Robert R. McCrae.

Author: Paul T. Costa Jr., Robert R. McCrae

Literature: McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T., Jr. Personality in adulthood: A five-factor theory perspective. Guilford Press. 2003.; Spitzberg, B. H., & Cupach, W. R. Interpersonal communication competence. SAGE Publications. 1984.