Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE)
12 items on worry about being judged negatively
Do you worry a lot about what others think? Afraid of saying the wrong thing or having your flaws noticed? The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) uses 12 items to measure how sensitive you are to being judged by others.
How much do you fear being judged?
The Brief Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale (BFNE) measures how worried you are about what others think of you — specifically, your fear of being negatively evaluated in social situations.
What fear of negative evaluation means
- Worrying about what others think of you
- Fear of being judged or criticized
- Avoiding situations where you might be evaluated
- Feeling self-conscious in social settings
About this scale
Mark Leary developed the brief version of the BFNE in 1983, based on the original 30-item scale by Watson and Friend (1969). It's a common measure of social evaluation anxiety.
Research shows that fear of negative evaluation is associated with:
- Social anxiety disorder
- Low self-esteem
- Depression
- Avoidance of social situations
This assessment helps you understand your level of social evaluation anxiety. Use it for personal reflection.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 12 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.