Although people generally experience the world via five senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell, each person may have their preferred mode of perception. There are three main modes of perception or modalities:
- visual,
- auditory,
- kinesthetic.
For example, some people tend to be highly visual and are affected the most by what they see.
They are motivated by visualizing themselves doing special things where they almost see their desired outcome.
They will pick a partner based on their looks and will always take pride in their appearance.
This type of people is using visual modality.
Then there are others who focus on sounds.
Although they may be affected by imagery, sounds have even more effect on them.
They may fall in love while talking over the phone because they like the other person’s voice.
They are motivated by listening to audiobooks or music.
These people are using mainly auditory modality.
Finally, the third type doesn’t focus as much on how things look or sound, but on how they feel. These people are using kinesthetic modality.
NLP practitioners and self-help gurus often talk about this concept(Tony Robbins is one good example).
The idea behind this is that knowing your preferred mode of operation will help you understand yourself better and find new ways to motivate yourself to reach your goals.
While this may sound like a good idea, the truth is that if you are one of those people who have one strongly preferred modality, you already know that.
Most people use a unique combination of all three and need all three factors to be present.
The perception test below is designed to help you determine whether or not you have any preferences and to what degree you use each of the three modalities on a scale from 0 to 100. Check all that apply, then hit the button to get your results:
I don’t have much stamina and get tired easily.
Sometimes I can make conclusions about one’s personality by the way their voice sounds.
I often make conclusions about one’s personality by looking at their clothes.
I enjoy stretching and/or exercise.
I can only sleep in my own bed.
Being comfortable is more important to me than being fashionable.
I love watching movies.
I remember faces very well.
I like going to museums.
I hate mess.
I hate clothes made of synthetic fabrics.
Good lighting is the secret of a beautiful home.
I am into music.
I can make conclusions about one’s personality by their handshake.
I love art exhibitions.
I enjoy deep conversations and debates.
Sometimes a touch speaks louder than words.
I can’t concentrate in a noisy environment.
I enjoy watching the sky.
I often hum tunes to myself.
I only wear comfortable clothes.
I love the heat.
When I buy something, color is an important consideration.
I can recognize people by the sound of their gait.
I can easily copy other people’s manner of talking and accents.
I take care of my appearance.
I love massage.
I love the sound of rain.
When alone, I turn on the television just to hear human voices.
I love to dance.
I can’t sleep unless it’s dead silent.
I always listen to music or the radio when driving.
I find it hard to stay still when I hear my favorite song.
I enjoy people watching.
I am an active person and enjoy physical activities.
I can decide whether or not to buy an outfit just by looking at it.
Old melodies remind me of my past.
I like to watch television while eating.
I prefer speaking over the phone to texting or emailing.
When I am stressed or worried, I literally feel a physical pressure in my chest.
I prefer audiobooks to reading.
After a bad day at work, I feel tense and unable to relax.
I appreciate all things visual — painting, photography, and movies.
I can easily recall the voices of my friends and colleagues and almost hear them inside my head if I want to.
I surround myself with beautiful things.
I often take a hot bath and find it enjoyable.
I use a planner to keep track of my projects and stay organized.
I actually talk to myself when alone.
Your results will appear here.
Online CBT Platform to Help Deal with Relationship Problems, Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, and More. Includes professional follow-up by a CBT therapist. Click here to get started.