Self-Control Scale Welcome to your Self-Control Scale How do you approach work and decision-making? Take this adaptation of a psychological assessment that academics have used for more than 30 years. Then, learn how your score compares with the scores of others—and what it might mean for your day-to-day life. Directions: Indicate how characteristic or descriptive each of the following statements is of you by using the code given below. Select the appropriate answer. When I do a boring job, I think about the less boring parts of the job and the reward that I will receive once I am finished. That never describes me. I strongly disagree. I don't do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It's slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I have to do something that is anxiety arousing for me, I try to visualize how I will overcome my anxieties while doing it. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Often by changing my way of thinking I am able to change my feelings about almost everything. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I often find it difficult to overcome my feelings of nervousness and tension without any outside help. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am feeling depressed I try to think about pleasant events. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I cannot avoid thinking about mistakes I have made in the past. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am faced with a difficult problem, I try to approach its solution in a systematic way. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I usually do my duties quicker when somebody is pressuring me. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am faced with a difficult decision, I prefer to postpone making a decision even if all the facts are at my disposal. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I find that I have difficulties in concentrating on my reading, I look for ways to increase my concentration. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I find that I have difficulties in concentrating on my reading, I look for ways to increase my concentration. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I try to get rid of a bad habit, I first try to find out all the factors that maintain this habit. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When an unpleasant thought is bothering me, I try to think about something pleasant. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. If I would smoke two packages of cigarettes a day, I probably would need outside help to stop smoking. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am m a low mood, I try to act cheerful so my mood will change. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. If I had the pills with me, I would take a tranquilizer whenever I felt tense and nervous. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am depressed, I try to keep myself busy with things that I like. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I tend to postpone unpleasant duties even if I could perform them immediately. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I need outside help to get rid of some of my bad habits. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I find it difficult to settle down and do a certain job, I look for ways to help me settle down. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Although it makes me feel bad, I cannot avoid thinking about all kinds of possible catastrophes in the future. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. First of all I prefer to finish a job that I have to do and then start doing the things I really like. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I feel pain in a certain part of my body, I try not to think about it. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. My self-esteem increases once I am able to overcome a bad habit. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. In order to overcome bad feelings that accompany failure, I often tell myself that it is not so catastrophic and that I can do something about it. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I feel that I am too impulsive, I tell myself "stop and think before you do anything. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Even when I am terribly angry at somebody, I consider my actions very carefully. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Facing the need to make a decision, I usually find out all the possible alternatives instead of deciding quickly and spontaneously. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Usually I do first the things I really like to do even if there are more urgent things to do. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I realize that I cannot help but be late for an important meeting, I tell myself to keep calm. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I feel pain in my body, I try to divert my thoughts from it. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. I usually plan my work when faced with a number of things to do. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. When I am short of money, I decide to record all my expenses in order to plan more carefully for the future. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. If I find it difficult to concentrate on a certain job, I divide the job into smaller segments. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Quite often I cannot overcome unpleasant thoughts that bother me. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Once I am hungry and unable to eat, I try to divert my thoughts away from my stomach or try to imagine that I am satisfied. That never describes me. I strongly disagree I don’t do that often at all. I disagree. I do that occasionally, but not often. It’s slightly undescriptive. Yeah, that’s sort of me some of the time. It’s slightly descriptive. That’s on target most of the time. I agree. Yep, that totally describes me. I strongly agree. Be sure to click Submit Quiz to see your results! Time's up