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Below is a Self-Assessment for Need for Control (SNC) designed to prompt reflection and identify patterns. It’s important to note that this isn’t a clinical or diagnostic tool but a structured self-inquiry based on common psychological frameworks.

Self-Assessment for Need for Control (SNC)

Instructions: Read each statement and indicate how accurately it describes your typical thoughts, feelings, or behaviors on a scale of 1 to 5.

· 1 = Very unlike me / Rarely true
· 2 = Unlike me / Occasionally true
· 3 = Neutral / Sometimes true
· 4 = Like me / Often true
· 5 = Very much like me / Almost always true

Try to answer based on your first instinct, not how you wish you would respond.

Section A: Emotional & Cognitive Reactions

1. I feel genuinely anxious or irritated when plans change at the last minute.
2. I have a hard time enjoying myself if things around me feel disorganized or messy.
3. I frequently replay conversations or events in my head, thinking about what I could have done or said better.
4. The idea of “going with the flow” for a whole day makes me feel stressed, not relaxed.
5. I get frustrated when people don’t follow instructions or procedures the way I would.

Section B: Behavior & Work Style

1. I prefer to do a task myself rather than delegate it, to ensure it’s done “right.”
2. I am meticulous about planning (trips, projects, weekends) and often create detailed lists or schedules.
3. I find it difficult to stop working on a project until every detail is perfected.
4. I often give unsolicited advice or step in to “help” others with their tasks.
5. In group work, I naturally take charge or feel responsible for the final outcome.

Section C: Interpersonal Relationships

1. I notice other people’s small mistakes or inefficiencies more often than I’d like to admit.
2. It bothers me when household items aren’t returned to their designated “proper” place.
3. I can be argumentative or persistent in discussions until the other person sees my point of view.
4. I struggle to be a passive participant; I’d rather lead an activity than just join in.
5. I sometimes feel that if I don’t worry about or manage a situation, it will fall apart.

Scoring & Analysis

Add up your scores from all 15 questions.

· 15 – 34 Points: Low Need for Control
You are likely flexible and adaptable. You tolerate ambiguity well and don’t feel a strong need to direct people or situations. You may actively avoid the stress of being in charge. Others probably see you as easy-going, though there may be times when you could benefit from more structure or initiative.
· 35 – 54 Points: Moderate Need for Control
You have a balanced approach. You appreciate order and efficiency and will take control when it feels necessary or when leadership is lacking, but you can also relax, delegate, and adapt. Your need for control is likely situational (e.g., high at work, low on vacation). This is a functional range for most environments.
· 55 – 75 Points: High Need for Control
You have a strong preference for order, predictability, and personal agency. You may experience significant stress when things feel chaotic or outside your command. While this drive can make you highly effective, reliable, and a natural leader, it can also lead to burnout, conflict in relationships, and difficulty with teamwork. Reflection on the cost of this need may be valuable.

Interpretation & Reflective Questions

Your total score gives a general tendency, but the pattern is equally important. Look back at your highest-scoring items (4s and 5s). Do they cluster in one area?

· High Scores in Section A (Emotional): Your need for control is deeply tied to managing internal anxiety. The root driver may be a fear of unpredictability.
· High Scores in Section B (Behavioral): Your need for control is action-oriented and task-focused. You derive satisfaction from mastery, order, and efficiency.
· High Scores in Section C (Interpersonal): Your need for control is relational. It may manifest in dynamics with partners, family, friends, or colleagues, potentially straining those connections.

For deeper self-awareness, ask yourself:

1. The “Why”: When I feel the need to control, what am I most afraid will happen? (e.g., failure, embarrassment, chaos, being seen as incompetent?)
2. The Cost/Benefit: How does this trait serve me? How does it hold me back or strain my relationships?
3. The Flexibility Test: Can I identify one low-stakes situation this week where I consciously practice letting go (e.g., letting someone else plan, not correcting a minor error, leaving a room untidy)?

Important Caveats

· This is a self-awareness tool, not a psychological diagnosis. A high score doesn’t mean you have a disorder.
· Context is everything. A high need for control is adaptive and necessary in many professions (e.g., surgeons, pilots, project managers). It becomes problematic primarily when it causes significant distress or functional impairment in personal life.
· If your need for control feels compulsive, causes constant distress, or is severely damaging your relationships, consider seeking guidance from a therapist or counsellor. They can help explore underlying causes like anxiety, perfectionism, or past trauma.

This test is a starting point for reflection. The goal isn’t to eliminate the need for control but to understand it, harness its strengths, and mitigate its costs.