Universal Perceived Locus of Causality Scale (UPLOC) Test

In 5 minutes, see how your motivation runs from external pressure to true autonomy across life areas. Get a clear snapshot to guide coaching, prevent burnout, and support lasting goals.
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Questions245 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
18,320 views
1,550 completions
1,288 likes
Verified by Daniel Hall
Psychologist with 25 years of experience
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How the Scales are Structured

example score
8/20
Amotivation (A)
Measures the extent to which a person lacks both internal and external reasons to engage in an activity.
Low
Moderate
High
49Low1015Moderate1620High
A score of 8 falls in the Low range, suggesting generally present motivation with only occasional feelings of having no clear reason or purpose to act.
example score
15/20
External Regulation (ER)
Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by external rewards, demands, or avoidance of negative consequences.
Low external control
Moderate external control
High external control
49Low external control1014Moderate external control1520High external control
A score of 15 indicates high external motivation, suggesting the activity is largely driven by rewards, rules, or fear of penalties rather than personal choice.
example score
11/20
Negative Introjected Regulation (NIR)
Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by internal pressure to avoid guilt or shame rather than by autonomous choice.
Low guilt-driven pressure
Moderate guilt-driven pressure
High guilt-driven pressure
49Low guilt-driven pressure1014Moderate guilt-driven pressure1520High guilt-driven pressure
A score of 11 indicates a moderate tendency to act to avoid guilt or shame, suggesting some internal pressure is influencing motivation alongside other factors.
example score
18/20
Positive Introjected Regulation (PIR)
Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by internal self-approval and self-esteem boosts rather than purely external incentives.
Low
Moderate
High
49Low1015Moderate1620High
A score of 18 indicates high introjected positive motivation, suggesting you often engage in activities to feel proud of yourself or to maintain a positive self-image.
example score
16/20
Identified Regulation (IR)
Identified motivation measures how strongly a person consciously values and accepts an activity’s goals as personally important, even if the activity was initially externally prompted.
Low
Moderate
High
49Low1015Moderate1620High
A score of 16 falls in the High range, suggesting the activity is largely pursued because its purpose and outcomes are personally meaningful and endorsed.
example score
15/20
Intrinsic (I)
Measures the extent to which a person is motivated by interest and enjoyment in the activity itself rather than external pressures.
Low intrinsic
Moderate intrinsic
High intrinsic
49Low intrinsic1015Moderate intrinsic1620High intrinsic
A score of 15 indicates moderately high intrinsic motivation, suggesting the activity is often driven by personal interest and enjoyment.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Students and learners
41%OF USERS
They want to understand whether studying is driven by genuine interest, pressure, or rewards and how to shift toward more self-directed motivation.
Employees feeling burnout
34%OF USERS
They take it to see what keeps them working day to day and whether their drive is mostly internal values or external demands.
Coaches and psychologists
25%OF USERS
They use it with clients or groups to map motivation styles and choose interventions that strengthen autonomy and lasting engagement.
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.
Amotivation (A)
Average
10.5
Normal range
8.412.7
min.
4
max.
20
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.
External (E)
Average
12.8
Normal range
10.215.4
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Introjected Negative (IN)
Average
9
Normal range
6.511.4
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Introjected Positive (IP)
Average
13.8
Normal range
10.816.8
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Identified (I)
Average
8.4
Normal range
610.8
min.
4
max.
20
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.
Internal (I)
Average
10.8
Normal range
8.513.1
min.
4
max.
20
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 questionnaire measure?
It measures types of motivational regulation along an autonomy continuum, from externally controlled motives to internally endorsed motives. It reflects perceived choice and intrinsic interest in an activity.
How long does it take and how many items are included?
Completion typically takes about 5 minutes. The questionnaire includes 24 items.
How should responses be selected?
Each item should be rated based on how well the stated reason matches the participant’s usual motive for the target activity. Responses should reflect typical patterns rather than a single recent event.
Can the wording be used for different activities?
Yes, item wording can be adapted to a specific domain such as school, work, health behavior, or personal projects. The same response format should be kept to allow comparison across domains or groups.
How are results interpreted and used?
Scores summarize the relative strength of different motivational regulations and indicate the degree of autonomy in engagement. Results can support screening, group comparisons, and planning interventions aimed at strengthening stable, self-endorsed motivation.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
Universal Scale of Types of Motivational Regulation, UPLOC Test

Universal Perceived Locus of Causality Scale (UPLOC) Test - Symptoms and Signs

This measure assesses perceived sources of motivation and the degree to which behavior is experienced as self-endorsed versus pressured. The Universal Perceived Locus of Causality Scale (UPLOC) is intended to characterize motivational regulation along an autonomy continuum.

The instrument includes 24 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Respondents rate statements describing reasons for engaging in an activity, yielding scores that can be used to summarize relative emphasis on more autonomous versus more controlled forms of regulation. It is commonly used in clinical, counseling, and research settings to inform case formulation, track change over time, and support group comparisons; interpretation should be integrated with other clinical data.

The Universal Perceived Locus of Causality Scale (UPLOC) was developed by Kennon M. Sheldon, Edward L. Deci, and Richard M. Ryan.

Author: Edward L. Deci, Kennon M. Sheldon, Richard M. Ryan
Literature: Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. Self-determination theory: A macrotheory of human motivation, development, and health. Canadian Psychology. 2008.
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