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Responsibility Symptom Complex Diagnostic Questionnaire3

Responsibility Symptom Complex Diagnostic Questionnaire Test

Understand how responsibility shows up in your personality in about 13 minutes. Get a clear profile across five styles to guide coaching, spot risk areas, and improve teamwork.

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Questions: 6713 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

26,780 views

2,873 completions

2,433 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

4/12

Self-Sacrifice (E) (SS)

Measures the tendency to assume responsibilities for others to the point of self-denial, often paired with helping and controlling behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

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

A score of 4 falls in the Low range, suggesting self-sacrificing responsibility is not a prominent way you take on obligations or relate to others.

example score

7/10

Ethicality (D) (E)

Measures how strongly a person’s responsibility is guided by moral principles and ethical convictions when making decisions and acting toward others.

Low ethical orientation

Moderate ethical orientation

High ethical orientation

0 – 3: Low ethical orientation | 4 – 7: Moderate ethical orientation | 8 – 10: High ethical orientation

A score of 7 suggests a moderately strong tendency to act responsibly in line with ethical and moral convictions, especially in situations involving impact on others.

example score

15/21

Normativity (C) (N)

Measures the tendency to follow established rules and traditions, with a focus on orderliness, self-control, and caution about change.

Flexible

Rule-aware

Highly normative

0 – 9: Flexible | 10 – 14: Rule-aware | 15 – 21: Highly normative

A score of 15 falls in the Highly normative range, suggesting a strong preference for clear rules and established expectations, often accompanied by careful self-monitoring and caution toward change.

example score

9/12

Self-Assertion (B) (SA)

Measures the extent to which responsibility is used for self-assertion and gaining recognition, often alongside avoidance of excessive burdens and internal tension.

Low

Moderate

High

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

A score of 9 falls in the High range, suggesting a stronger tendency to take on responsibilities mainly for approval or recognition while showing less initiative and experiencing more inner strain.

example score

6/12

Principledness (A) (P)

Measures how strongly a person relies on personal principles and personal accountability when making decisions and interpreting outcomes.

Low

Moderate

High

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

A score of 6 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a generally principle-guided sense of responsibility that is present but not rigid or dominant in most situations.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Psychologists and coaches

41%OF USERS

They use it to quickly see what kind of responsibility drives a client and where it may create stress, rigidity, or self-sacrifice.

Team leads and HR

34%OF USERS

They take it to understand who tends to overtake duties, who follows rules by default, and how to distribute tasks and feedback more effectively.

Over-responsible achievers

25%OF USERS

They want to figure out whether their sense of duty is principled, ethical, or self-denying and how it affects burnout and relationships.

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

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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.

Self-Sacrifice (E) (S()

Average

6.6

Normal range

5 — 8.2

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.

Ethics (D) (E()

Average

Normal range

4.4 — 7.6

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.

Normativity (C) (N()

Average

14.6

Normal range

10.9 — 18.3

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.

Self-assertion (B) (S()

Average

4.5

Normal range

2.7 — 6.4

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.

Principledness (A) (P()

Average

8.2

Normal range

6.7 — 9.8

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.

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

You will be presented with a series of statements concerning various aspects of life and attitudes toward them. Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each statement by selecting “Yes” or “No.” There are no good or bad, right or wrong answers. The most appropriate response is the one you give based on your first impression.

- Yes
- No
- Yes
- No
- Yes
- No

These are 3 of the 67 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

Responsibility Symptom Complex Diagnostic Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

responsibility

This questionnaire is intended to assess how responsibility-related tendencies are expressed as a clinically relevant pattern of traits and symptoms. The Responsibility Symptom Complex Diagnostic Questionnaire provides a structured self-report format to support characterization of responsibility in the context of personality functioning.

The measure includes 67 items and typically takes about 13 minutes to complete. When interpreted in conjunction with clinical interview and other assessment data, results may help inform case formulation and guide discussion of motivation, rule adherence, moral reasoning, and potential overextension in role expectations. The Responsibility Symptom Complex Diagnostic Questionnaire is attributed to Julian B. Rotter.

Author: Julian B. Rotter

Literature: Paulhus, D. L. Measurement and control of response bias. In J. P. Robinson, P. R. Shaver, & L. S. Wrightsman (Eds.), Measures of personality and social psychological attitudes. Academic Press. 1991.