My BPNS-PCP report

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Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale, in-general form · Last taken 2026052722 · Retake

BPNS-PCP Results

Need	Score	Band
Total mean (1-7)	6.21	high
Autonomy (1-7)	5.43	typical
Competence (1-7)	6.91	high
Relatedness (1-7)	6.37	high

What your scores mean

No need scored at or below the suggestive "frustrated" threshold (mean ≤ 4.0).

The BPNS is not a diagnostic instrument. Self-Determination Theory holds that satisfaction of the three basic needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) is a precondition for psychological well-being. Low scores indicate domains where the need is currently frustrated, not a pathology in the respondent.

Need interpretation

Autonomy, 5.43 / 7: The experience of acting volitionally, of doing things because they fit who you are rather than because you have to. Low scores often track with feeling pressured or controlled.
Competence, 6.91 / 7: The experience of effectance, of feeling capable in your pursuits. Low scores often track with frustration, self-doubt, or a sense of being underused.
Relatedness, 6.37 / 7: The experience of meaningful connection with others. Low scores often track with social isolation or feeling unimportant to the people around you.

Top-scoring items per need

Within each need, the items you endorsed most strongly in the satisfaction direction. Reverse-keyed items are inverted before ranking.

Autonomy

8. I generally feel free to express my ideas and opinions. you answered Very true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction
20. There is not much opportunity for me to decide for myself how to do things in my daily life. you answered Mostly not true · 6/7 in the satisfaction direction ↻
1. I feel like I am free to decide for myself how to live my life. you answered Mostly true · 6/7 in the satisfaction direction
17. I feel like I can pretty much be myself in my daily situations. you answered Mostly true · 6/7 in the satisfaction direction

Competence

5. People I know tell me I am good at what I do. you answered Very true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction
10. I have been able to learn interesting new skills recently. you answered Very true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction
15. In my life I do not get much of a chance to show how capable I am. you answered Not at all true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction ↻
19. I often do not feel very capable. you answered Not at all true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction ↻

Relatedness

7. I pretty much keep to myself and don't have a lot of social contacts. you answered Not at all true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction ↻
18. The people I interact with regularly do not seem to like me much. you answered Not at all true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction ↻
6. I get along with people I come into contact with. you answered Very true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction
12. People in my life care about me. you answered Very true · 7/7 in the satisfaction direction

All 21 responses

#	Item	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
1	I feel like I am free to decide for myself how to live my life.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
2	I really like the people I interact with.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
3	Often, I do not feel very competent. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
4	I feel pressured in my life. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
5	People I know tell me I am good at what I do.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
6	I get along with people I come into contact with.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
7	I pretty much keep to myself and don't have a lot of social contacts. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
8	I generally feel free to express my ideas and opinions.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
9	I consider the people I regularly interact with to be my friends.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
10	I have been able to learn interesting new skills recently.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
11	In my daily life, I frequently have to do what I am told. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
12	People in my life care about me.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
13	Most days I feel a sense of accomplishment from what I do.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
14	People I interact with on a daily basis tend to take my feelings into consideration.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
15	In my life I do not get much of a chance to show how capable I am. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
16	There are not many people that I am close to. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
17	I feel like I can pretty much be myself in my daily situations.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
18	The people I interact with regularly do not seem to like me much. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
19	I often do not feel very capable. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
20	There is not much opportunity for me to decide for myself how to do things in my daily life. (reverse-keyed)	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
21	People are generally pretty friendly towards me.	1	2	3	4	5	6	7

About the BPNS

The Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction Scale (BPNS) operationalises Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan), which posits that the satisfaction of three innate psychological needs (autonomy, competence, relatedness) is a precondition for well-being and intrinsic motivation. The 21-item "in general" version assesses need satisfaction across everyday life rather than within a specific domain.

References: Deci & Ryan; Gagné 2003, Motivation & Emotion 27(3):199-223. The canonical version of this instrument is maintained at selfdeterminationtheory.org.