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White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI)

White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) Test

Learn how strongly you try to push away upsetting thoughts and how much stress it creates in about 3 minutes. Get a fast, clear signal to guide anxiety or obsessive-thought support.

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Questions: 153 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

24,373 views

3,004 completions

2,499 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

3/5

Thought Intrusion (TI)

Measures how often and intensely unwanted, intrusive thoughts occur and how difficult they are to control.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.4: Low | 2.5 – 3.9: Moderate | 4 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable but not extreme level of intrusive thoughts that may be intermittently hard to manage.

example score

2/5

Thought Suppression (TS)

Measures how strongly a person deliberately tries to push away or avoid unwanted thoughts.

Low suppression

Moderate suppression

High suppression

1 – 2.4: Low suppression | 2.5 – 3.9: Moderate suppression | 4 – 5: High suppression

A score of 2 falls in the Low suppression range, suggesting relatively infrequent or mild efforts to control or avoid unwanted thoughts.

example score

3/5

Unwanted Thought Suppression (UTS)

Measures how strongly a person tends to push away unwanted thoughts and the tension associated with their recurrence.

Low suppression

Moderate suppression

High suppression

1 – 2.4: Low suppression | 2.5 – 3.9: Moderate suppression | 4 – 5: High suppression

A score of 3 indicates a moderate tendency to suppress unwanted thoughts, suggesting some effort to control intrusive ideas with a noticeable but not extreme level of associated strain.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Anxiety and overthinking strugglers

41%OF USERS

People who feel stuck in loops of worry and try hard to block intrusive thoughts, but end up feeling more tense.

OCD-like intrusive thoughts

34%OF USERS

Those dealing with recurring unwanted images or urges who want to understand how much suppression is fueling distress.

Therapy and self-insight seekers

25%OF USERS

People already working on mental health or self-help who want a quick snapshot of their habit of fighting thoughts and the stress it creates.

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.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

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.

Intrusion of Thoughts (IoT)

Average

3.3

Normal range

2.7 — 3.8

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.

Suppression of Thoughts (SoT)

Average

3.3

Normal range

2.7 — 3.9

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.

Scale of Suppression of Unwanted Thoughts (SoSoUT)

Average

3.9

Normal range

3.2 — 4.7

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.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures the tendency to push away unwanted thoughts and the distress linked to thoughts that return repeatedly. It reflects both suppression efforts and tension related to recurrence.

What kinds of thoughts are covered by the items?

Items refer to intrusive, unpleasant, or anxiety-provoking thoughts, images, or ideas. They focus on internal experiences rather than specific events or diagnoses.

How should responses be selected?

Choose the option that best matches typical experience, not a single unusual day. Answer based on what is generally true, even if the content feels uncomfortable.

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

It includes 15 statements. Typical completion time is about 3 minutes.

How should results be interpreted?

Higher scores indicate more frequent attempts to suppress thoughts and greater strain from recurring mental content. Scores do not provide a diagnosis and should be interpreted in context.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Unwanted Thought Suppression Scale, WBSI Test

White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) Test - Symptoms and Signs

cbt

This self-report measure assesses an individual’s tendency to suppress unwanted thoughts and the distress associated with recurrent intrusive cognitions. The White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) is commonly used to characterize thought-control efforts that may be clinically relevant in anxiety- and obsession-related presentations.

Developed by Daniel M. Wegner and Patricia M. Zanakos, it consists of 15 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Respondents rate their level of agreement with statements reflecting attempts to push away unwanted ideas and the subjective strain that can accompany these efforts.

Scores on the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI) may help clinicians and researchers identify patterns of maladaptive thought suppression and consider their relationship to emotional distress, symptom maintenance, and treatment planning. Interpretation should be integrated with clinical interview findings and other assessment data.

Author: Daniel M. Wegner, Patricia M. Zanakos

Literature: Wegner, D. M., & Zanakos, S. Chronic thought suppression. Journal of Personality. 1994.; Gross, J. J., & John, O. P. Individual differences in two emotion regulation processes: Implications for affect, relationships, and well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 2003.; Wegner, D. M., & Zanakos, S. Chronic thought suppression. Journal of Personality. 1994.

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