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Conflict Engagement and Disengagement Tendency Test

Conflict Engagement and Disengagement Tendency Test

Understand how likely you are to enter conflict and how quickly you pull back in about 4 minutes. Get clear insight for better communication, negotiation, and conflict management at work and home.

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Questions: 204 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

12,883 views

757 completions

606 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

8/10

Forceful Action (FA)

Measures how directly and assertively a person tends to defend their position in conflict situations.

Reserved

Balanced

Bull-headed

0 – 4: Reserved | 5 – 7: Balanced | 8 – 10: Bull-headed

A score of 8 indicates a strong tendency to take a firm, direct stance and actively press one’s position during conflicts.

example score

5/10

Conflict Avoidance (CA)

Measures the tendency to avoid conflict situations rather than engage in confrontation.

Low avoidance

Moderate avoidance

High avoidance

0 – 4: Low avoidance | 5 – 7: Moderate avoidance | 8 – 10: High avoidance

A score of 5 indicates a moderate tendency to avoid conflicts, suggesting you may choose disengagement in some situations while still addressing issues directly in others.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Managers and team leads

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand how they handle disagreements at work and whether they escalate issues or de-escalate them quickly.

Couples and close partners

34%OF USERS

They use it to spot patterns in arguments and learn who tends to start conflict and who tends to shut it down or walk away.

Students and trainees

25%OF USERS

They take it as part of communication or psychology learning to see their conflict style and practice healthier responses.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

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.

Bull-headed (B)

Average

4.1

Normal range

2.5 — 5.7

min.

max.

Majority

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.

Conflict Avoidant (CA)

Average

6.9

Normal range

5.7 — 8.2

min.

max.

Majority

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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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this assessment measure?

It measures two tendencies: how readily a person enters conflict and how quickly they try to exit it. Results describe typical patterns rather than isolated reactions.

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

Estimated completion time is about 4 minutes. The questionnaire includes 20 items.

How should responses be selected?

Select the option that best reflects typical behavior in conflict situations. Base answers on usual patterns rather than an ideal response.

How are results interpreted?

Scores indicate relative levels of conflict engagement and conflict withdrawal. Interpretation should consider context, role demands, and other relevant information.

Can the results be used for diagnosis or selection decisions?

The results are not a diagnosis and do not determine mental health status. They may support discussion, coaching, or training when used with other information.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Test on the tendency to enter into and exit conflicts

Conflict Engagement and Disengagement Tendency Test - Symptoms and Signs

business communication business behavior in conflict

In clinical and organizational settings, patterns of approaching versus avoiding interpersonal conflict can inform case conceptualization and intervention planning. The Conflict Engagement and Disengagement Tendency Test is a brief self-report measure designed to characterize an individual’s typical tendency to enter into disagreements and to withdraw or de-escalate when conflict occurs.

Developed by Kenneth W. Thomas and Ralph H. Kilmann, it consists of 20 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. Responses yield separate indicators of conflict engagement and conflict disengagement tendencies, which may be considered alongside interview data and other measures when evaluating communication style, coping strategies, and interactional functioning.

The Conflict Engagement and Disengagement Tendency Test is not a stand-alone diagnostic instrument; results are best interpreted in context, with attention to situational factors, role expectations, and the individual’s baseline stress level.

Author: Kenneth W. Thomas, Ralph H. Kilmann

Literature: Thomas, K. W., & Kilmann, R. H. Thomas–Kilmann conflict mode instrument. Xicom. 1974.; Rahim, M. A. Managing conflict in organizations. Quorum Books. 1992.

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