Alexithymia Test
A confidential self-assessment informed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the most widely used research measure of difficulty identifying and describing feelings. You get an instant, plain-language result, a breakdown across the three factors, and a professional PDF report you can keep or bring to a clinician.
Three sides of difficulty with feelings
Alexithymia is not a lack of emotion. It is difficulty noticing, naming, and putting words to your inner states. The TAS-20 framework captures this across three connected factors, so you see whether the trouble is in feeling, describing, or attending to emotions at all.
Identifying feelings
Difficulty telling your emotions apart, and distinguishing feelings from the bodily sensations that come with them. This is the core factor of alexithymia.
Describing feelings
Difficulty finding the words to express your emotions to other people, even when you sense something is there.
Externally-oriented thinking
A tendency to focus on outside facts and practicalities rather than inner experience, which keeps emotions out of view.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Based on the TAS-20 | Rarely | Yes, faithfully informed |
| Correct reverse scoring | Often wrong | Yes, handled internally |
| Three-factor breakdown | No | Yes, all three factors |
| Published cutoffs (61+ / 52-60 / 51-) | Rarely shown | Yes, explained clearly |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, MD reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
Methodology & sources
The twenty statements are informed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) developed by Bagby, Parker, and Taylor (1994), the most widely used measure of alexithymia in research. Items are worded faithfully to its three factors: difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally-oriented thinking. Each item is answered on a five-point agreement scale scored 1 to 5, and the items that are positively worded toward emotional awareness are reverse-scored so that a higher total always reflects more alexithymic traits. The total runs from 20 to 100.
This screening is provided for education and self-reflection. It uses the published TAS-20 cutoffs: a total of 51 or below indicates no alexithymia, 52 to 60 indicates possible or borderline alexithymia, and 61 or above indicates alexithymia is likely present. Alexithymia is a personality trait that exists on a spectrum and can accompany conditions like autism, depression, and post-traumatic stress, not a standalone diagnosis. The factor breakdown shows where any difficulty is concentrated.
- Bagby RM, Parker JDA, Taylor GJ. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, I: item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):23–32.
- Bagby RM, Taylor GJ, Parker JDA. The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, II: convergent, discriminant, and concurrent validity. J Psychosom Res. 1994;38(1):33–40.
- Taylor GJ, Bagby RM, Parker JDA. Disorders of Affect Regulation: Alexithymia in Medical and Psychiatric Illness. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press; 1997.
Alexithymia Test FAQ
What is alexithymia?
Alexithymia is difficulty identifying and describing your own emotions, and a tendency to focus outward on facts rather than inner experience. It is a personality trait on a spectrum, not a mental illness, though it often accompanies other conditions.
What score suggests alexithymia?
On the TAS-20, a total of 51 or below indicates no alexithymia, 52 to 60 indicates possible or borderline alexithymia, and 61 or above suggests alexithymia is likely present. These are the cutoffs used in research.
Is this a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Alexithymia is not a formal diagnosis on its own, and a clinician would assess it alongside your wider history. If your result resonates, it can be a useful thing to explore with a professional.
Is alexithymia the same as not having feelings?
No. People with alexithymia usually do have emotions and physical responses; the difficulty is in noticing, naming, and expressing them. Many describe feeling something is there without being able to say what it is.
Is the test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed, and the optional PDF is generated on your own device.