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.