Measures tendency to engage in effortful thinking. 18 items.

The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE), developed by Leary (1983), is a 12-item self-report measure assessing the degree to which people experience apprehension about being evaluated negatively by others. Items are rated on a 5-point scale. The BFNE is widely used in social anxiety research and clinical settings. High scores indicate a strong fear of being judged, a core feature of social anxiety disorder. The scale has excellent psychometric properties with Cronbach's alpha typically above 0.90.

Scoring Guide

18 items, 5-point. 9 reversed. Total 18-90.

Result Interpretation

After completing the 18 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:

  • Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
  • Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
  • Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available

All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.