You are about to take the Epstein Resilience Inventory (ERI), a test of resilience designed by Dr. Robert Epstein, one of America's most distinguished research psychologists (follow on Twitter @DrREpstein).
Resilience is the ability to bounce back after suffering loss or disappointment. While some people are naturally resilient, resilience can also be broken down into a number of skills that can be measured and trained. In other words, resilience can be learned.
That's good news, because resilience is an important factor in both personal and professional success. Being resilient can not only help you bounce back; it can even help you become stronger than you were before.
The ERI is based on scientific studies that show the value that nine different types of skills have for resilience. After you complete the test, you will be given a detailed report showing how strong your skills are in these skill areas. Where your skills are weak, improving them can help you greatly in your life.
If you are conducting research and would like to collect raw data for a group that is taking this test - for a business, research study, classroom activity, or other purpose - please see our Group Testing Instructions.
Most people take about 15 minutes to complete the test. Before we get to the test itself, we will ask you a few basic questions about yourself. Demographic information is being collected for research purposes only and will be kept strictly confidential.
To make sure the scoring is accurate, be sure to fill in all the blanks!
*Required response
For each of the following questions, select the answer that best applies to you.
*1. I'm good at identifying my strengths and weaknesses.
Agree
Disagree
*2. I know how to identify my emotions accurately, both positive and negative ones.
Agree
Disagree
*3. I'm good at staying in the moment, rather than worrying about the past or future.
Agree
Disagree
*4. I often bottle up my emotions.
Agree
Disagree
*5. When I don't understand what someone is saying, I always ask him or her to clarify.
Agree
Disagree
*6. I regularly examine and try to correct my irrational beliefs.
Agree
Disagree
*7. I try not to think too much about bad things that have happened to me.
Agree
Disagree
*8. I often ask for feedback from other people.
Agree
Disagree
*9. I'm good at judging how other people are feeling.
Agree
Disagree
*10. I practice yoga, meditation, or other relaxation techniques to help me relax.
Agree
Disagree
*11. When something bad happens to me, I try to think about it in a neutral or positive way.
Agree
Disagree
*12. I generally put a lot of effort into achieving my goals.
Agree
Disagree
*13. I always have high hopes for the future.
Agree
Disagree
*14. I'm always looking for the best possible solution to every problem I face.
Agree
Disagree
*15. I'm aware of and take pride in my strengths.
Agree
Disagree
*16. I often think about good things that happened to me to make me feel happy.
Agree
Disagree
*17. I always try to speak loudly enough so people can hear me easily.
Agree
Disagree
*18. I always eat healthy foods.
Agree
Disagree
*19. My negative thoughts often overwhelm me.
Agree
Disagree
*20. I see challenges as opportunities to improve myself.
Agree
Disagree
*21. I have trouble apologizing to people I have hurt.
Agree
Disagree
*22. I never let my fears hold me back.
Agree
Disagree
*23. I know how to voice my opinions without hurting others.
Agree
Disagree
*24. I generally have realistic expectations about what's going to happen.
Agree
Disagree
*25. I put a lot of effort into maintaining my friendships.
Agree
Disagree
*26. I maintain good eye contact when speaking with people.
Agree
Disagree
*27. I always try to respect other people's views, even when I don't agree with them.
Agree
Disagree
*28. I generally try to interpret what happens to me positively.
Agree
Disagree
*29. I have trouble thinking clearly when I'm faced with problems.
Agree
Disagree
*30. I regularly explore ways to improve myself.
Agree
Disagree
*31. I try not to repeat the same mistakes.
Agree
Disagree
*32. I often get upset or angry when I'm criticized.
Agree
Disagree
*33. I often find myself repeating the same mistakes.
Agree
Disagree
*34. I use both positive and negative life experiences to grow and improve myself.
Agree
Disagree
*35. When I need to ask someone for a favor, I always ask for it clearly and directly.
Agree
Disagree
*36. I always make sure I get a good night's sleep.
Agree
Disagree
*37. I regularly review the goals I've set for myself.
Agree
Disagree
*38. I regularly set ambitious but realistic goals for myself.
Agree
Disagree
*39. I sometimes make myself smile when I feel sad.
Agree
Disagree
*40. I always speak up when something is bothering me.
Agree
Disagree
*41. I have trouble forgiving people if they have hurt me in some way.
Agree
Disagree
*42. I always finish what I start.
Agree
Disagree
*43. I try to forgive myself if I make a mistake.
Agree
Disagree
*44. I exercise regularly.
Agree
Disagree
*45. I have trouble expressing affection or love for other people.
Agree
Disagree
*46. When something bad happens, I sometimes use drugs or alcohol to make me feel better.
Agree
Disagree
*47. I often try to use humor to reduce tension.
Agree
Disagree
*48. I always seek to perform at a high level.
Agree
Disagree
*49. I have trouble prioritizing.
Agree
Disagree
*50. I often turn to friends or relatives to help me deal with bad experiences.
Agree
Disagree
*51. When I can't solve a problem, I often ask other people to help me.
Agree
Disagree
*52. I have trouble staying calm in difficult situations.
Agree
Disagree
*53. I get back to my routines fairly quickly after something bad happens.
Agree
Disagree
*54. I'm willing to see a therapist if something bad has happened to me.
Agree
Disagree
*55. I regularly take breaks to help me relax.
Agree
Disagree
*56. I find it easy to forgive people if they have hurt me in some way.
Agree
Disagree
*57. I always try to find meaning in the bad things that have happened to me.
Agree
Disagree
*58. When I start to panic, I know how to calm myself down.
Agree
Disagree
*59. I have at least one person I can always trust and rely on.
Agree
Disagree
*60. When I start to panic, I don't know what to do.
Agree
Disagree
*61. I work hard to maintain my friendships.
Agree
Disagree
*62. I have trouble controlling my negative emotions, like sadness, fear, or anger.
Agree
Disagree
*63. I sometimes get emotional when I shouldn't.
Agree
Disagree
*64. I do not get upset or angry when someone criticizes me.
Agree
Disagree
*65. I always try to make time for friendly interactions with other people.
Agree
Disagree
*66. I have no trouble saying no to people.
Agree
Disagree
*67. When the going gets tough, I frequently just give up.
Agree
Disagree
*68. I often find creative new ways to solve my problems.
Agree
Disagree
*69. I frequently visualize soothing scenes to help me relax.
Agree
Disagree
*70. I often wish my problems would just go away.
Agree
Disagree
*71. I generally plan ahead as a way of reducing the chaos in my life.
Agree
Disagree
*72. I generally work hard to achieve my goals.
Agree
Disagree
*73. I generally try to avoid or ignore hostile people.
Agree
Disagree
*74. I often speak so softly that people can't hear me.
Agree
Disagree
*75. I often take the time to think about things I'm grateful for.
Agree
Disagree
*76. I'm good at keeping myself calm in difficult situations.
Agree
Disagree
*77. I generally look at the positive side of things.
Agree
Disagree
*78. I praise and encourage other people far more often than I criticize them.
Agree
Disagree
*79. When I can't solve a problem one way, I try another.
Agree
Disagree
*80. I often avoid dealing with the problems I face in my life.
Agree
Disagree
*81. When I'm blamed for something I didn't do, I always speak up and defend myself.
Agree
Disagree