Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire

Online version of the Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire (DPQ), developed by Julie K. Norem to assess defensive pessimism as a cognitive strategy. It examines the tendency to set low expectations before an important situation and to think through possible outcomes in detail as a way of preparing for problems and managing anxiety.

Defensive Pessimism Questionnaire | form | sample

Author: Julie Norem (2001)

The test is a research-based measure that was also included in Julie K. Norem's popular book The Positive Power of Negative Thinking.

This test is provided for educational and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute psychological advice of any kind and comes with no guarantee of accuracy or validity. The assessment is free and anonymous.

References

J. K. Norem, E. C. Chang. A very full glass: Adding complexity to our thinking about the implications and applications of optimism and pessimism research // In: E. C. Chang (Ed.). Optimism and pessimism: Implications for theory, research, and practice. Washington, DC: APA, 2001
J. K. Norem. The Positive Power of Negative Thinking. Using Defensive Pessimism to Manage Anxiety and Perform at Your Peak. Basic Books, 2002