In short
The Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ) is a self-report test developed by the psychologists Hans Eysenck and Sybil Eysenck in the 1970s. It measures where a person falls on three broad dimensions of personality: Psychoticism, Extraversion and Neuroticism. Most items are simple yes or no statements about habits, feelings and reactions.
The three dimensions
Psychoticism (P) is a spectrum from tender-minded to tough-minded. High scorers tend to be direct, independent, unconventional and comfortable with risk and conflict; low scorers tend to be caring, cooperative and rule-respecting. Despite the name, it does not mean psychosis or mental illness. It describes a normal personality trait that everyone has to some degree.
Extraversion (E) runs from introverted to extraverted. Extraverts are sociable, lively and stimulation-seeking. Introverts are reserved, reflective and comfortable with quiet. Eysenck proposed that introverts are more easily aroused by their surroundings, so they need less stimulation to feel at their best.
Neuroticism (N) runs from emotionally stable to emotionally reactive. High scorers feel worry, tension and low mood more readily and take longer to settle. Low scorers stay calm under pressure and recover quickly. Eysenck linked this to how sensitive a person's stress response is.
The Lie scale
The EPQ also includes a Lie (L) scale, sometimes called a social desirability scale. Its statements describe things that almost nobody can honestly claim, such as never having told a lie. A very high L score suggests the person may have been presenting themselves in an unrealistically good light, so the other scores should be read with caution.
The types of EPQ
The EPQ is a family of related tests that grew out of earlier work.
| Version | What it measures | Notes |
|---|
| Maudsley Medical Questionnaire (1947) | Neuroticism | An early forerunner. |
| Maudsley Personality Inventory (1959) | Extraversion, Neuroticism | Two-dimension model. |
| Eysenck Personality Inventory, EPI (1964) | Extraversion, Neuroticism, Lie | Added the Lie scale. |
| Eysenck Personality Questionnaire, EPQ (1975) | Psychoticism, Extraversion, Neuroticism, Lie | Introduced the third dimension. |
| EPQ-Revised, EPQ-R (1985) | P, E, N, Lie | Improved the Psychoticism scale; a 100-item version. |
| EPQ-R Short Form | P, E, N, Lie | A 48-item version with 12 items per scale, the format this page follows. |
| EPQ Junior | P, E, N, Lie | Wording adapted for children. |
Personality types from Extraversion and Neuroticism
Eysenck noticed that combining Extraversion and Neuroticism reproduces the four temperaments described by ancient physicians. This is a popular way to summarise a profile.
CholericHigh Extraversion, high Neuroticism. Energetic, passionate, quick to react.
SanguineHigh Extraversion, low Neuroticism. Sociable, easy-going, upbeat.
MelancholicLow Extraversion, high Neuroticism. Thoughtful, sensitive, prone to worry.
PhlegmaticLow Extraversion, low Neuroticism. Calm, steady, reserved.
How this page scores you
- There are 48 statements, 12 for each of the four scales.
- Each answer that matches the direction of a scale adds one point, so every scale scores from 0 to 12.
- Some statements are worded in reverse, so agreeing with them lowers a score.
- Scores of 0 to 4 (Psychoticism 0 to 3) are read as low, the middle range as moderate, and the top range as high.
Limits to keep in mind
- The statements here are original and inspired by Eysenck's model. This is not the official, licensed EPQ, so scores are not comparable with published norms.
- Self-report tests reflect how you see yourself on the day you answer.
- Researchers have debated the Psychoticism scale and whether three dimensions are enough. Many prefer the five-factor model, which splits the same territory differently.
- Nothing here is a diagnosis. If you are worried about your mood or wellbeing, speak to a qualified professional.