Personality
Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer?
Why some people agonise over a menu and others just order.
How this is scored
14 items (9 agreement statements and 5 scenario choices) inspired by maximizing and regret research. Original wording, educational use only.
Academic References & Background
- Scott, S. G., & Bruce, R. A. (1995). Decision-making style: The development and assessment of a new measure. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 55(5), 818-831.
Your result
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Before you start
The 3 possible results
Every answer nudges you toward one of these. Here is what each one means.
Maximizer
You want the best available option, not merely a good one, so you search widely, compare carefully, and keep the question open longer than most people do. The research finding here is genuinely useful: maximizers tend to get objectively better outcomes and feel worse about them, because a wider search means more known alternatives to measure your choice against.
Balanced decider
You scale your effort to the stakes: real comparison on things that matter, quick calls on things that do not. That is the pattern most people say they want and fewer actually manage.
Satisficer
You decide against a standard rather than a ranking: once something clears your bar, you take it and stop looking. That costs you the occasional marginally better option and buys you a great deal of time and peace.
About this assessment
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Are You a Maximizer or a Satisficer? measure?
Why some people agonise over a menu and others just order. 14 items (9 agreement statements and 5 scenario choices) inspired by maximizing and regret research. Original wording, educational use only.
How is this test scored and how long does it take?
This test contains 14 questions and takes about 2 minutes to complete. All scoring runs instantly in your browser with zero sign-up.
Are my responses and results kept private?
Yes, 100% private. All calculations happen entirely inside your web browser. Your answers never leave your device and are never stored on any server.
Is this a clinical or medical diagnosis?
No. MindType tests are created for self-reflection, personal insight, and education. They do not constitute clinical, psychiatric, or psychological diagnosis.
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