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Comprehensive Intellectual Humility Scale

Mark Travers, Ph.D.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D.

October 21, 2025

Mark Travers, Ph.D., is the lead psychologist at Awake Therapy, responsible for new client intake and placement. Mark received his B.A. in psychology, magna cum laude, from Cornell University and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder. His academic research has been published in leading psychology journals and has been featured in The New York Times and The New Yorker, among other popular publications. He is a regular contributor for Forbes and Psychology Today, where he writes about psycho-educational topics such as happiness, relationships, personality, and life meaning.

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Can you admit when you might be mistaken? Take this test to find out your level of “intellectual humility.”

Intellectual humility is a valuable and multifaceted trait. It involves recognizing the limits of your own knowledge and being open to new information. It entails, in essence, always being open to the idea of being wrong or having something new to learn, and appreciating the other’s perspectives. It reflects your ability to remain curious and respectful when faced with differing opinions or uncertainty.

Having this skill (and enhancing it) has been linked to a range of psychological and social benefits. Some of these include improved decision-making, stronger relationships and greater openness to learning. It also helps reduce defensiveness during disagreements, while also promoting a deeper understanding of complex issues.

The Comprehensive Intellectual Humility Scale (CIHS) was developed to scientifically assess the degree to which individuals embody this quality. The scale consists of 20 statements that measure various dimensions of intellectual humility — such as independence of intellect and ego, openness to revising one’s viewpoint, respect for others’ viewpoints, and lack of intellectual overconfidence. By responding to these items, individuals can gain insight into how they engage with knowledge and approach personal growth in their thinking.

You can take this test here. Follow all of the steps to receive your results.

References: Krumrei-Mancuso, E. J., & Rouse, S. V. (2016). The development and validation of the Comprehensive Intellectual Humility Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 98, 209–221. doi:10.1080/00223891.2015.1068174

Step 1: Rate the following statements based on how much you agree with them on a scale of strongly disagree to strongly agree.

1. I recognize that other people’s ideas can often be as good as, or better than, my own.

2. I believe I have as much to learn from others as they do from me.

3. Even when I feel confident in a belief, I acknowledge that I could still be mistaken.

4. I value others’ expertise and seek their input just as much as my own knowledge.

5. On important topics, I remain open to being influenced by the viewpoints of others.

6. I have at times changed opinions that were important to me when someone showed me I was wrong.

7. I am willing to change my position on an important issue in the face of good reason.

8. I am open to revising my important beliefs in the face of new information.

9. I am willing to change my opinions on the basis of compelling reason.

10. I’m willing to change my mind once it’s made up about an important topic.

11. I respect that there are ways of making important decisions that are different from the way I make decisions.

12. Listening to the perspectives of others can meaningfully shape my important opinions.

13. I welcome different ways of thinking about important topics.

14. I can have great respect for someone, even when we don't see eye-to-eye on important topics.

15. Even when I disagree with others, I can recognize that they have sound points.

16. When someone disagrees with ideas that are important to me, I can stay open and curious rather than feeling attacked.

17. When someone contradicts my most important beliefs, I see it as an opportunity to reflect, not as a personal attack.

18. I feel comfortable engaging with people who disagree with me on topics close to my heart.

19. I can respect others, even if I disagree with them in important ways.

20. I am willing to hear others out, even if I disagree with them.

21. When someone disagrees with ideas that are important to me, I remind myself that my perspective still matters.

22. I stay grounded in my worth even when others disagree with me on topics that are close to my heart.

0 of 0 questions answered

Step 2: Enter your age, gender, region, and first name so we can provide you with a detailed report that compares your test scores with people similar to you.

1. What is your age?

2. What is your gender?

3. What region of the world do you live in?

4. What is your first name?

Step 3: Check to make sure you've provided answers to all of the statements/questions above. Once you've done that, click the button below to send your responses to Awake Therapy's Lead Psychologist, Mark Travers, Ph.D. He will provide you with an overview of how you scored relative to others (all answers are anonymized and confidential to protect users' privacy). He can also answer any follow-up questions you may have.

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