Is Your Self Image Positive or Negative?

When I run Emotional intelligence training I use a variety of questionnaires to support people in gaining self-awareness.  I thought I’d share this on with you.  It’s taken from the book “Self-Scoring Emotional Intelligence Tests” by Mark Daniel.  Actually, this test is designed to assess whether your self-image is positive or negative.

A Positive Perception Pays

Emotional intelligence is a means of finding a sense of personal peace and calm.  For you to operate with high emotional intelligence, it’s important that we have the ability to communicate our emotions openly and honestly.  And for this, it’s useful to have a positive perception of yourself.

Print out this page and circle the answers that you identify emotionally with most closely.

1.Look at the number “(1)” .  How do you immediately define it?

a) solitary, lonely?

b)erect, proud?

c) slim, tight?

2.Look at the number “(8)” .  How do you immediately define it?

a) plump, jolly?

b) fat, squat?

c) dual, divided?

3. Look at the number “(7)” .  How do you immediately define it?

a) elegant, relaxed?

b) magical, mystical?

c) slimy, sliding?

4. Children are most likely to succeed if they read:

a) fairy tales.

b) educational books.

c) history.

5. Nudism is:

a) beautiful or funny.

b) disgusting or pathetic.

c) it depends on the bodies.

6. How would you describe your body?

a) unsatisfactory, ugly.

b) far from perfect, and yet it does the job and attracts the people who matter.

c) pretty good, thanks for asking!

7. You see a beautiful member of your own sex.  Do you feel:

a) admiration?

b) envy?

c) scorn?

8. How do you feel about your birth name?

a) I don’t like it/I hate it.

b) I like it.  It suits me.

c) It doesn’t really suit me but I can’t be bothered to change.

9. Involuntary bodily functions inspire:

a) admiration, wonder?

b) indifference?

c) revulsion?

10. Your hero/heroine is/was:

a) a feisty figher?

b) a victim who fought back?

c) first and foremost a giver, and a star?

11. Life is:

a) a painful struggle.

b) a lot of fun.

c) a battle to be enjoyed.

12. War is:

a) a sorry, inevitable consequence of beloved human nature.

b) a terrible crime.

c) when we are truly alive.

Your Scores

Now take a look at your scores and add up your totals based on the table below.

Interpreting The Scores: Is Your Self-Image Positive Or Negative

12-18: You could do with a boost!

Now then – you really aren’t that bad!  Find a mirror now and take a look.  Marvel at the way in which every tiny, complex part of you functions, then argue that you’re not remarkable and wonderful.  If you have a dislike of others, it’s founded on nothing more than a dislike of yourself.  Beautiful, rich, successful people can still feel pain and insecurities.  Your smile and enthusiastic help make your contribution valuable to all.  Disapproval and dislike should be reasoned and specific.  Where it is general, it speaks of mistrust of your own nature, rather than the nature of other people.

19-27: Are you intolerant of the flaws in others?

So, you certainly accept what you think you are.  The question is, does that image tally with the reality you – fallible, frail, uncertain, mortal man or woman?  Your aggression and assertiveness seem to speak rather more of poor self-image and of confidence in a projection.  Those who fall into category 12-18 scores have the humility to do something about it, and yet you may find rather more difficulty in developing an accurate appreciation of yourself.  The projection, after all, is popular enough, and you never need to consider all those inconvenient little flaws that make you human.  This in turn makes you potentially intolerant of those flaws in other mortals.

28-36: Comfortable In Your Own Skin 🙂

You have a very positive self-image.  There’s no requirement for you to assert yourself in order to inspire confidence.  Your positive self-image is founded upon reality rather than projection and will be easily communicated to others.  You’re comfortable in your own skin.  Nice!  It’s probably contagious!