Form: Personal Orientation Inventory, POI

a) I am bound by the principle of fairness.

b) I am not absolutely bound by the principle of fairness.

a) When a friend does me a favor, I feel that I must return it.

b) When a friend does me a favor, I do not feel that I must return it.

a) I feel I must always tell the truth.

b) I do not always tell the truth.

a) No matter how hard I try, my feelings are often hurt.

b) If I manage the situation right, I can avoid being hurt.

a) I feel that I must strive for perfection in everything that I undertake.

b) I do not feel that I must strive for perfection in everything that I undertake.

a) I often make my decisions spontaneously.

b) I seldom make my decisions spontaneously.

a) I am afraid to be myself.

b) I am not afraid to be myself.

a) I feel obligated when a stranger does me a favor.

b) I do not feel obligated when a stranger does me a favor.

a) I feel that I have a right to expect others to do what I want of them.

b) I do not feel that I have a right to expect others to do what I want of them.

a) I live by values which are in agreement with others.

b) I live by values which are primarily based on my own feelings.

a) I am concerned with self-improvement at all times.

b) I am not concerned with self-improvement at all times.

a) I feel guilty when I am selfish.

b) I don't feel guilty when I am selfish.

a) I have no objection to getting angry.

b) Anger is something I try to avoid.

a) For me, anything is possible if I believe in myself.

b) I have a lot of natural limitations even though I believe in myself.

a) I put others' interests before my own.

b) I do not put others' interests before my own.

a) I sometimes feel embarrassed by compliments.

b) I am not embarrassed by compliments.

a) I believe it is important to accept others as they are.

b) I believe it is important to understand why others are as they are.

a) I can put off until tomorrow what I ought to do today.

b) I don't put off until tomorrow what I ought to do today.

a) I can give without requiring the other person to appreciate what I give.

b) I have a right to expect the other person to appreciate what I give.

a) My moral values are dictated by society.

b) My moral values are self-determined.

a) I do what others expect of me.

b) I feel free to not do what others expect of me.

a) I accept my weaknesses.

b) I don't accept my weaknesses.

a) In order to grow emotionally, it is necessary to know why I act as I do.

b) In order to grow emotionally, it is not necessary to know why I act as I do.

a) Sometimes I am cross when I am not feeling well.

b) I am hardly ever cross.

a) It is necessary that others approve of what I do.

b) It is not always necessary that others approve of what I do.

a) I am afraid of making mistakes.

b) I am not afraid of making mistakes.

a) I trust the decisions I make spontaneously.

b) I do not trust the decisions I make spontaneously.

a) My feelings of self-worth depend on how much I accomplish.

b) My feelings of self-worth do not depend on how much I accomplish.

a) I fear failure.

b) I don't fear failure.

a) My moral values are determined, for the most part, by the thoughts, feelings and decisions of others.

b) My moral values are not determined, for the most part, by the thoughts, feelings and decisions of others.

a) It is possible to live life in terms of what I want to do.

b) It is not possible to live life in terms of what I want to do.

a) I can cope with the ups and downs of life.

b) I cannot cope with the ups and downs of life.

a) I believe in saying what I feel in dealing with others.

b) I do not believe in saying what I feel in dealing with others.

a) Children should realize that they do not have the same rights and privileges as adults.

b) It is not important to make an issue of rights and privileges.

a) I can “stick my neck out” in my relations with others.

b) I avoid “sticking my neck out” in my relations with others.

a) I believe the pursuit of self-interest is opposed to interest in others.

b) I believe the pursuit of self-interest is not opposed to interest in others.

a) I find that I have rejected many of the moral values I was taught.

b) I have not rejected any of the moral values I was taught.

a) I live in terms of my wants, likes, dislikes and values.

b) I do not live in terms of my wants, likes, dislikes and values.

a) I trust my ability to size up a situation.

b) I do not trust my ability to size up a situation.

a) I believe I have an innate capacity to cope with life.

b) I do not believe I have an innate capacity to cope with life.

a) I must justify my actions in the pursuit of my own interests.

b) I need not justify my actions in the pursuit of my own interests.

a) I am bothered by fears of being inadequate.

b) I am not bothered by fears of being inadequate.

a) I believe that man is essentially good and can be trusted.

b) I believe that man is essentially evil and cannot be trusted.

a) I live by the rules and standards of society.

b) I do not always need to live by the rules and standards of society.

a) I am bound by my duties and obligations to others.

b) I am not bound by my duties and obligations to others.

a) Reasons are needed to justify my feelings.

b) Reasons are not needed to justify my feelings.

a) There are times when just being silent is the best way I can express my feelings.

b) I find it difficult to express my feelings by just being silent.

a) I often feel it necessary to defend my past actions.

b) I do not feel it necessary to defend my past actions.

a) I like everyone I know.

b) I do not like everyone I know.

a) Criticism threatens my self-esteem.

b) Criticism does not threaten my self-esteem.

a) I believe that knowledge of what is right makes people act right.

b) I do not believe that knowledge of what is right necessarily makes people act right.

a) I am afraid to be angry at those I love.

b) I feel free to be angry at those I love.

a) My basic responsibility is to be aware of my own needs.

b) My basic responsibility is to be aware of others' needs.

a) Impressing others is most important.

b) Expressing myself is most important.

a) To feel right, I need always to please others.

b) I can feel right without always having to please others.

a) I will risk a friendship in order to say or do what I believe is right.

b) I will not risk a friendship just to say or do what is right.

a) I feel bound to keep the promises I make.

b) I do not always feel bound to keep the promises I make.

a) I must avoid sorrow at all costs.

b) It is not necessary for me to avoid sorrow.

a) I strive always to predict what will happen in the future.

b) I do not feel it necessary always to predict what will happen in the future.

a) It is important that others accept my point of view.

b) It is not necessary for others to accept my point of view.

a) I only feel free to express warm feelings to my friends.

b) I feel free to express both warm and hostile feelings to my friends.

a) There are many times when it is more important to express feelings than to carefully evaluate the situation.

b) There are very few times when it is more important to express feelings than to carefully evaluate the situation.

a) I welcome criticism as an opportunity for growth.

b) I do not welcome criticism as an opportunity for growth.

a) Appearances are all-important.

b) Appearances are not terribly important.

a) I hardly ever gossip.

b) I gossip a little at times.

a) I feel free to reveal my weaknesses among friends.

b) I do not feel free to reveal my weaknesses among friends.

a) I should always assume responsibility for other people's feelings.

b) I need not always assume responsibility for other people's feelings.

a) I feel free to be myself and bear the consequences.

b) I do not feel free to be myself and bear the consequences.

a) I already know all I need to know about my feelings.

b) As life goes on, I continue to know more and more about my feelings.

a) I hesitate to show my weaknesses among strangers.

b) I do not hesitate to show my weaknesses among strangers.

a) I will continue to grow only by setting my sights on a high-level, socially approved goal.

b) I will continue to grow best by being myself.

a) I accept inconsistencies within myself.

b) I cannot accept inconsistencies within myself.

a) Man is naturally cooperative.

b) Man is naturally antagonistic.

a) I don't mind laughing at a dirty joke.

b) I hardly ever laugh at a dirty joke.

a) Happiness is a by-product in human relationships.

b) Happiness is an end in human relationships.

a) I only feel free to show friendly feelings to strangers.

b) I feel free to show both friendly and unfriendly feelings to strangers.

a) I try to be sincere but I sometimes fail.

b) I try to be sincere and I am sincere.

a) Self-interest is natural.

b) Self-interest is unnatural.

a) A neutral party can measure a happy relationship by observation.

b) A neutral party cannot measure a happy relationship by observation.

a) For me, work and play are the same.

b) For me, work and play are opposites.

a) Two people will get along best if each concentrates on pleasing the other.

b) Two people can get along best if each person feels free to express himself.

a) I have feelings of resentment about things that are past.

b) I do not have feelings of resentment about things that are past.

a) I like only masculine men and feminine women.

b) I like men and women who show masculinity as well as femininity.

a) I actively attempt to avoid embarrassment whenever I can.

b) I do not actively attempt to avoid embarrassment.

a) I blame my parents for a lot of my troubles.

b) I do not blame my parents for my troubles.

a) I feel that a person should be silly only at the right time and place.

b) I can be silly when I feel like it.

a) People should always repent their wrongdoings.

b) People need not always repent their wrongdoings.

a) I worry about the future.

b) I do not worry about the future.

a) Kindness and ruthlessness must be opposites.

b) Kindness and ruthlessness need not be opposites.

a) I prefer to save good things for future use.

b) I prefer to use good things now.

a) People should always control their anger.

b) People should express honestly-felt anger.

a) The truly spiritual man is sometimes sensual.

b) The truly spiritual man is never sensual.

a) I am able to express my feelings even when they sometimes result in undesirable consequences.

b) I am unable to express my feelings if they are likely to result in undesirable consequences.

a) I am often ashamed of some of the emotions that I feel bubbling up within me.

b) I do not feel ashamed of my emotions.

a) I have had mysterious or ecstatic experiences.

b) I have never had mysterious or ecstatic experiences.

a) I am orthodoxly religious.

b) I am not orthodoxly religious.

a) I am completely free of guilt.

b) I am not free of guilt.

a) I have a problem in fusing sex and love.

b) I have no problem in fusing sex and love.

a) I enjoy detachment and privacy.

b) I do not enjoy detachment and privacy.

a) I feel dedicated to my work.

b) I do not feel dedicated to my work.

a) I can express affection regardless of whether it is returned.

b) I cannot express affection unless I am sure it will be returned.

a) Living for the future is as important as living for the moment.

b) Only living for the moment is important.

a) It is better to be yourself.

b) It is better to be popular.

a) Wishing and imagining can be bad.

b) Wishing and imagining are always good.

a) I spend more time preparing to live.

b) I spend more time actually living.

a) I am loved because I give love.

b) I am loved because I am lovable.

a) When I really love myself, everybody will love me.

b) When I really love myself, there will still be those who won't love me.

a) I can let other people control me.

b) I can let other people control me if I am sure they will not continue to control me.

a) As they are, people sometimes annoy me.

b) As they are, people do not annoy me.

a) Living for the future gives my life its primary meaning.

b) Only when living for the future ties into living for the present does my life have meaning.

a) I follow diligently the motto, “Don't waste your time.”

b) I do not feel bound by the motto, “Don't waste your time.”

a) What I have been in the past dictates the kind of person I will be.

b) What I have been in the past does not necessarily dictate the kind of person I will be.

a) It is important to me how I live in the here and now.

b) It is of little importance to me how I live in the here and now.

a) I have had an experience where life seemed just perfect.

b) I have never had an experience where life seemed just perfect.

a) Evil is the result of frustration in trying to be good.

b) Evil is an intrinsic part of human nature which fights good.

a) A person can completely change his essential nature.

b) A person can never change his essential nature.

a) I am afraid to be tender.

b) I am not afraid to be tender.

a) I am assertive and affirming.

b) I am not assertive and affirming.

a) Women should be trusting and yielding.

b) Women should not be trusting and yielding.

a) I see myself as others see me.

b) I do not see myself as others see me.

a) It is a good idea to think about your greatest potential.

b) A person who thinks about his greatest potential gets conceited.

a) Men should be assertive and affirming.

b) Men should not be assertive and affirming.

a) I am able to risk being myself.

b) I am not able to risk being myself.

a) I feel the need to be doing something significant all of the time.

b) I do not feel the need to be doing something significant all of the time.

a) I suffer from memories.

b) I do not suffer from memories.

a) Men and women must be both yielding and assertive.

b) Men and women must not be both yielding and assertive.

a) I like to participate actively in intense discussions.

b) I do not like to participate actively in intense discussions.

a) I am self-sufficient.

b) I am not self-sufficient.

a) I like to withdraw from others for extended periods of time.

b) I do not like to withdraw from others for extended periods of time.

a) I always play fair.

b) Sometimes I cheat a little.

a) Sometimes I feel so angry I want to destroy or hurt others.

b) I never feel so angry that I want to destroy or hurt others.

a) I feel certain and secure in my relationships with others.

b) I feel uncertain and insecure in my relationships with others.

a) I like to withdraw temporarily from others.

b) I do not like to withdraw temporarily from others.

a) I can accept my mistakes.

b) I cannot accept my mistakes.

a) I find some people who are stupid and uninteresting.

b) I never find any people who are stupid and uninteresting.

a) I regret my past.

b) I do not regret my past.

a) Being myself is helpful to others.

b) Just being myself is not helpful to others.

a) I have had moments of intense happiness when I felt like I was experiencing a kind of ecstasy or bliss.

b) I have not had moments of intense happiness when I felt like I was experiencing a kind of bliss.

a) People have an instinct for evil.

b) People do not have an instinct for evil.

a) For me, the future usually seems hopeful.

b) For me, the future often seems hopeless.

a) People are both good and evil.

b) People are not both good and evil.

a) My past is a stepping stone for the future.

b) My past is a handicap to my future.

a) “Killing time” is a problem for me.

b) “Killing time” is not a problem for me.

a) For me, past, present and future are in meaningful continuity.

b) For me, the present is an island, unrelated to the past and future.

a) My hope for the future depends on having friends.

b) My hope for the future does not depend on having friends.

a) I can like people without having to approve of them.

b) I cannot like people unless I also approve of them.

a) People are basically good.

b) People are not basically good.

a) Honesty is always the best policy.

b) There are times when honesty is not the best policy.

a) I can feel comfortable with less than a perfect performance.

b) I feel uncomfortable with anything less than a perfect performance.

a) I can overcome any obstacles as long as I believe in myself.

b) I cannot overcome every obstacle even if I believe in myself.