How long does this quiz take?

This quiz takes about 2 minutes to complete.

Are my responses private?

Yes, all answers are anonymized and confidential.

Can I take this test more than once?

Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your results may have changed.

Will this quiz tell me if I am prejudiced?

No—this test is not a diagnostic tool. It helps you reflect on your perceptions and emotional reactions to social difference.

Can my results help me improve my relationships?

Yes. Understanding how you perceive others can support greater empathy, awareness, and healthier social interactions.

This validated psychology scale measures how you perceive and emotionally respond to people who feel different, unfamiliar, or outside your social group.

Otherness Scale

See whether you tend to experience others as strangers—or as equals.

By Mark Travers, Ph.D. | Last Updated: January 14, 2026

Reviewed for clinical accuracy by Jourdan Travers, LCSW

The Otherness Scale is a research-validated psychological measure designed to assess how individuals perceive people who feel unfamiliar, different, or outside their identity group. Developed through mixed-methods research with hundreds of participants, the scale captures two core dimensions: viewing others as threatening or foreign versus viewing them as fundamentally equal and relatable. Understanding where you fall can shed light on your comfort with diversity, social bonding, and coexistence. If you’re interested in how sensitivity or openness shape perception, you may also want to explore the Highly Sensitive Person Questionnaire or the Openness to Experience Scale.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this quiz take?: This quiz takes about 2 minutes to complete.
Are my responses private?: Yes, all Otherness Scale answers are anonymized and confidential.
Can I take this test more than once?: Yes, you can retake the test any time to see how your Otherness Scale results may have changed.
Will this quiz tell me if I am prejudiced?: No—this test is not a diagnostic tool. It helps you reflect on your perceptions and emotional reactions to social difference.
Can my results help me improve my relationships?: Yes. Understanding how you perceive others can support greater empathy, awareness, and healthier social interactions.

Otherness Scale: Take The 10-Item Test

Step 1: Rate Your Perception Of Others

For each statement, indicate how much you agree on a scale of 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 5 (Strongly Agree). For best results, answer honestly and trust your first instinct.

1. If I see someone who dresses or wears their hair in strange ways, it causes me discomfort

2. It seems threatening to let immigrants enter the country

3. Strangers, generally speaking, seem annoying to me

4. I am afraid of being in a place with strangers

5. I believe that others corrupt identity and culture

6. I think strangers can be very harmful

7. I generally feel that others are indifferent to me

8. I believe that others may be able to harm their fellow human beings to achieve their achievements

9. I think that people can establish bonds of friendship, even if they belong to racial minorities or identity groups

10. I think people tend to group with other people

Step 2: Enter Your Demographics

Provide your age, gender, region, and first name for a detailed report comparing your results to others.

What is your age?

What is your gender?

What region of the world do you live in?

What is your first name?

Step 3: Submit Your Otherness Scale Answers

After completing all questions, click below to send your responses to Mark Travers, Ph.D. All answers are anonymized and confidential.

References

Mateus, C., Jabba, D., Erazo, A.M. et al. Otherness measuring scale: design and validation for social sciences. BMC Psychol 12, 30 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01505-8

Disclaimer

This scale is designed for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment.