The Self-Deception Test
A research-based look at the self-views you protect — and the truths you quietly steer around
About this assessment
An original self-honesty assessment inspired by Paulhus's Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) and the self-deceptive enhancement literature. Most validity scales measure how much you spin OTHER people; this one turns that science inward to ask how much you spin yourself. It maps four engines of self-deception — honestly-held but inflated self-views (Self-Deceptive Enhancement), the quiet refusal to look at inconvenient truths (Denial & Avoidance), the after-the-fact reasons that make your behavior sound fine (Rationalization), and the parts of yourself you genuinely can't see (Blind Spots) — using concrete, real-life moments rather than abstract traits. It returns a single Self-Honesty score plus a profile across the four engines. Educational and reflective, not a clinical diagnosis.
Your result breaks down across 4 measured dimensions
This assessment includes built-in validity checks. Your result includes a confidence rating based on response consistency.