Dichotomous Thinking Inventory (DTI)
15-item measure of black-and-white thinking across 3 dimensions
Do you find yourself seeing things in black and white? The DTI (Oshio, 2009) measures three aspects of dichotomous thinking: preference for clear-cut categories, the belief that the world is binary, and the habit of evaluating everything as beneficial or not. 15 items, about 3 minutes. Not a diagnostic tool.
Do you see things in black and white?
Dichotomous thinking — also called all-or-nothing or binary thinking — is the habit of sorting complex reality into rigid either/or categories. It's normal in small doses, but as a stable style it can complicate relationships, career decisions, and mental health.
The DTI breaks it into three dimensions:
- Preference for Dichotomy: You like things sorted into two boxes — anything in between feels uncomfortable
- Dichotomous Belief: You believe the world is fundamentally binary
- Profit-and-loss Thinking: Your first question about anything is whether it helps or harms you
*Oshio (2009). Dichotomous Thinking Inventory (DTI).*
Result Interpretation
After completing the 15 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
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.