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Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS)3

Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) Test

Understand how you explore options, make commitments, and feel about your chosen path in about 5 minutes. A fast, reliable snapshot that helps pinpoint identity strengths and stress points for counseling or research.

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Questions: 255 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

30,249 views

3,854 completions

3,140 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

14/25

In-Depth Exploration (IDE)

Measures how much a person reflects in depth on their existing commitments to evaluate and, if needed, adjust them to their values and circumstances.

Low deep inquiry

Moderate deep inquiry

High deep inquiry

5 – 11: Low deep inquiry | 12 – 18: Moderate deep inquiry | 19 – 25: High deep inquiry

A score of 14 indicates a moderate level of deep inquiry, suggesting a balanced tendency to review current choices and values without it dominating your decision-making.

example score

14/25

Identification With Commitment (IWC)

Measures how strongly a person feels their existing commitments are internalized and experienced as part of their identity.

Low identification

Moderate identification

High identification

5 – 12: Low identification | 13 – 18: Moderate identification | 19 – 25: High identification

A score of 14 suggests a moderate level of identification with commitments, indicating the chosen direction feels somewhat personal but may not yet be fully integrated into the sense of self.

example score

16/25

Ruminative Exploration (RE)

Measures the extent of compulsive, doubt-driven searching for alternatives that can prevent settling on identity-related decisions.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 11: Low | 12 – 18: Moderate | 19 – 25: High

A score of 16 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency to keep questioning and searching for options that may make decisions feel harder to finalize.

example score

13/25

Exploration in Breadth (EiB)

Measures the tendency to explore a wide range of identity alternatives by seeking out new options and information.

Low breadth search

Moderate breadth search

High breadth search

5 – 11: Low breadth search | 12 – 18: Moderate breadth search | 19 – 25: High breadth search

A score of 13 indicates a moderate tendency to consider multiple alternatives and gather information about possible identity options.

example score

8/25

Commitment Making (CM)

Measures how strongly a person makes decisions about their direction and maintains those choices over time.

Low commitment acceptance

Moderate commitment acceptance

High commitment acceptance

5 – 11: Low commitment acceptance | 12 – 18: Moderate commitment acceptance | 19 – 25: High commitment acceptance

A score of 8 falls in the low range, suggesting you currently tend to feel less settled in decisions and may be less likely to stick with a chosen direction.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students choosing a path

41%OF USERS

People in late teens or early adulthood who are exploring majors, careers, and values and want clarity about where they stand.

Clients in counseling

34%OF USERS

People working through anxiety, indecision, or inner conflict who want to see whether they are stuck in overthinking or moving toward commitments.

Psychology research participants

25%OF USERS

Volunteers in studies on personality and life transitions who complete a quick measure of identity development processes.

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.

Deep Search (DS)

Average

10.4

Normal range

7 — 13.8

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.

Identification with Commitments (IwC)

Average

16.9

Normal range

14.2 — 19.6

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.

Obsessive searching (Os)

Average

12.8

Normal range

10.3 — 15.2

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.

Breadth-first search (Bs)

Average

10.2

Normal range

7.3 — 13.1

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.

Commitment Acceptance (CA)

Average

15.2

Normal range

12.1 — 18.2

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

- Strongly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Agree
- Strongly agree
- Strongly disagree
- Somewhat disagree
- Neither agree nor disagree
- Somewhat agree
- Strongly agree

These are 3 of the 25 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

Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

identity

identity status

This measure assesses core processes involved in how individuals explore, consolidate, and experience their personal identity. The Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) is designed to capture variability in identity-related exploration and commitment processes relevant to clinical and research settings.

The instrument evaluates broad exploration of alternatives, in-depth exploration of chosen options, ruminative or worry-driven exploration, the formation of commitments, and identification with those commitments. It includes 25 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete.

Results from the Dimensions of Identity Development Scale (DIDS) may help characterize identity development patterns and clarify areas of difficulty (e.g., elevated ruminative exploration or low commitment), which can inform case conceptualization and treatment planning.

Author: Erik H. Erikson, James E. Marcia

Literature: Luyckx, K., Schwartz, S. J., Berzonsky, M. D., Soenens, B., Vansteenkiste, M., Smits, I., & Goossens, L. Capturing ruminative exploration: extending the four-dimensional model of identity formation in late adolescence. Journal of Research in Personality. 2008.