Self-Actualization Test

With 28 questions and about 20 minutes to complete, the Self-Actualization Test explores which areas of your needs may feel insufficiently fulfilled, including autonomy, relationships, security, and personal potential. Your result highlights patterns for self-reflection and can help you consider where greater satisfaction or change may be possible.

Questions: 2820 minutes

Self-Actualization Test: situation and reply bubbles

October 2, 2025October 2, 2025Material has been updatedOctober 2, 2025Material has been published

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Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

Self-RealizationSR

Measures dissatisfaction with realizing personal potential and the strength of growth- and goal-directed motivation.

example score28/42

28/42Moderateexample score

0 – 26Low

27 – 32Moderate

33 – 42High

A score of 28 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable drive for growth and goal pursuit alongside some remaining dissatisfaction with fully realizing personal potential.

IndependenceI

Measures dissatisfaction with one’s level of autonomy and self-reliance, reflecting the strength of unmet independence needs.

example score7/25

7/25Low needexample score

0 – 12Low need

13 – 17Moderate need

18 – 25High need

A score of 7 falls in the Low need range, suggesting relatively little dissatisfaction with autonomy and self-reliance at this time.

EsteemE

The Respect scale measures how satisfied a person feels with their self-esteem and recognition from others.

example score16/25

16/25Moderateexample score

0 – 14Low

15 – 19Moderate

20 – 25High

A score of 16 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting generally adequate self-respect and perceived recognition with some areas that may still feel insufficient.

Social AffiliationSA

This scale measures how satisfied a person feels with their need for communication, closeness, and belonging.

example score12/25

12/25Low satisfactionexample score

0 – 13Low satisfaction

14 – 19Moderate satisfaction

20 – 25High satisfaction

A score of 12 falls in the low satisfaction range, suggesting the need for communication and belonging may be less fulfilled at the moment.

SafetyS

Measures dissatisfaction with personal security, stability, and confidence in the future.

example score3/25

3/25Low dissatisfactionexample score

0 – 12Low dissatisfaction

13 – 16Moderate dissatisfaction

17 – 25High dissatisfaction

A score of 3 indicates low dissatisfaction with safety needs, suggesting a generally stable sense of security and confidence in the near future.

Physiological NeedsPN

Measures dissatisfaction with basic biological needs such as food, sleep, rest, and physical well-being.

example score13/25

13/25Moderate dissatisfactionexample score

0 – 12Low dissatisfaction

13 – 16Moderate dissatisfaction

17 – 25High dissatisfaction

A score of 13 indicates moderate dissatisfaction with organic needs, suggesting some unmet basics (e.g., rest, nutrition, physical comfort) that may occasionally draw attention.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Searching for life direction

41%OF USERS

People who feel stuck or unfulfilled and want to understand which needs are unmet and where to focus next.

Students and early professionals

34%OF USERS

Those choosing a path or building a career who want to compare external achievements with inner satisfaction and motivation.

Psychologists and coaches

25%OF USERS

Practitioners who use the results to spot client bottlenecks across needs and plan realistic growth steps.

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.

Shaded area — where most people score

Dot — the average

You — your score lands on each curve after the test— your score, after the test

Self-actualizationS

You?

Average12.5

Typical rangeTypical7.1 – 17.9

Possible0 – 42

IndependenceI

You?

Average13.3

Typical rangeTypical9.4 – 17.2

Possible0 – 25

RespectR

You?

Average10

Typical rangeTypical5.4 – 14.7

Possible0 – 25

CommunicationC

You?

Average8.5

Typical rangeTypical4.1 – 12.8

Possible0 – 25

SafetyS

You?

Average14.5

Typical rangeTypical9.9 – 19.1

Possible0 – 25

OrganicO

You?

Average17.4

Typical rangeTypical14.1 – 20.7

Possible0 – 25

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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Read the set of three statements, decide whether you agree or disagree with each one, and allocate a total of three points across them. The more you agree with a statement, the more points you assign to it.

- to be able to cook more tasty dishes.
- to have insurance coverage for a larger amount.
- to have more friends.
- I would like to be able to keep improving myself without end.
- I would like people to do what I tell them.
- I would like to do more physical exercise.
- to be able to fully develop my abilities.
- to be able to have a stronger influence on other people.
- to be more physically active.

These are 3 of the 28 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

Self-Actualization Test - Description and methodology of the test

management

self-actualization

values

People who are weighing a change in priorities or looking for a structured pause may use the Self-Actualization Test to organize personal reflection. This self-actualization questionnaire is suited to readers who want to examine how their current circumstances shape what they hope to develop, protect, or change. Its profile can turn broad impressions into practical questions for goal-setting, journaling, or discussion with someone they trust.

What This Assessment Explores

As a self-realization assessment, it measures unmet needs.

The displayed dimensions are:

Self-Realization (0-42) measures unmet potential, development, and goal attainment: Low 0-26; Moderate 27-32; High 33-42.
Independence (0-25) measures dissatisfaction with autonomy and self-reliance: Low need 0-12; Moderate need 13-17; High need 18-25.
Esteem (0-25) measures dissatisfaction with self-respect and recognition: Low 0-14; Moderate 15-19; High 20-25.
Social Affiliation (0-25) measures unmet connection and belonging needs: Low satisfaction 0-13; Moderate satisfaction 14-19; High satisfaction 20-25.
Safety (0-25) measures dissatisfaction with security, stability, and future confidence: Low dissatisfaction 0-12; Moderate dissatisfaction 13-16; High dissatisfaction 17-25.
Physiological Needs (0-25) measures unmet food, sleep, and physical well-being needs: Low dissatisfaction 0-12; Moderate dissatisfaction 13-16; High dissatisfaction 17-25.

Methodology and Scientific Basis

Responses present paired or grouped wishes with three alternatives; one item asks the respondent to distribute three points across three statements. The format compares priorities rather than symptom frequency or agreement with descriptions. Scoring converts selections into six scale totals and places each total in its displayed band.

Conceptually, this questionnaire is consistent with Reddin and Sullivan’s 1970 self-actualization instrument, but it is not presented as a standardized reproduction of that measure. Maslow’s motivation model and Taormina and Gao’s later study offer additional context for the hierarchy and measurement of need satisfaction; these connections describe a conceptual framework rather than establish that this online questionnaire reproduces either published measure.

Interpret this questionnaire’s self-actualization needs profile in context, reading each scale against its own displayed range and label rather than ranking raw totals across scales. The scoring shows six scale totals with catalogue-defined bands; an area is flagged according to the wording attached to its individual band. Current health, finances, workload, relationships, mood, and self-awareness can shape responses, so the result is best used to identify reflection and goal-setting priorities.

Author: Carol D. Ryff

Literature:

Reddin, W. J., & Sullivan, J. Brian. (1970). Self-Actualization Test. Organizational Tests Ltd., Canada.
Reddin, W. J. (1990). Tests for the Output Oriented Manager. Kogan Page, London, UK.
Maslow, A. H. (1943). A Theory of Human Motivation. Psychological Review, 50(4), 370-396. 10.1037/h0054346.
Taormina, R. J., & Gao, J. H. (2013). Maslow and the motivation hierarchy: measuring satisfaction of the needs. American Journal of Psychology, 126(2), 155-177. 10.5406/amerjpsyc.126.2.0155

Updated: 2025-10-02