Perception Test: Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic Modalities

Although people generally experience the world through five senses — sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell — they may pay more attention to some kinds of sensory information than others. A popular framework describes three broad preferences:

• visual,
• auditory,
• kinesthetic.

For example, some people tend to be highly visual and are especially affected by what they see.

They may be motivated by visualizing themselves doing certain things and almost seeing their desired outcome.

They may pay a lot of attention to how people and things look and take pride in their appearance.

In this framework, these tendencies are described as a preference for the visual modality.

Then there are others who focus more on sounds.

Although they may also be affected by imagery, sounds may have a stronger effect on them.

They may be particularly drawn to someone’s voice or enjoy listening to audiobooks, conversations, or music.

These tendencies are described as a preference for the auditory modality.

Finally, some people pay more attention to physical sensations and how things feel rather than mainly to how they look or sound. In this framework, this is called the kinesthetic modality.

NLP practitioners and self-help authors often talk about this concept. Tony Robbins is one well-known example.

The idea is that knowing which kinds of sensory experiences appeal to you most may help you understand some of your preferences and find different ways to motivate yourself.

However, visual, auditory, and kinesthetic preferences should not be treated as fixed personality types. Most people use a combination of all three, and their preferences may also depend on the situation.

The test below is designed to help you see whether you have any noticeable 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 learn physical tasks best by trying them myself.
Sometimes I can make conclusions about someone’s personality by the way their voice sounds.
I often make conclusions about someone’s personality by looking at their clothes.
I enjoy stretching and/or exercise.
I notice immediately when a chair, bed, or piece of clothing feels uncomfortable.
Being comfortable is more important to me than being fashionable.
I can easily picture scenes from places I have visited.
I remember faces very well.
Charts, diagrams, or pictures help me understand information quickly.
I notice visual details in a room that other people seem to miss.
I hate clothes made of synthetic fabrics.
Good lighting is the secret to a beautiful home.
I am into music.
I can make conclusions about someone’s personality from their handshake.
I love art exhibitions.
I remember things better when I hear them spoken aloud.
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 footsteps.
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.
I notice changes in people’s tone of voice very quickly.
I prefer activities that involve movement rather than sitting still.
I can’t sleep unless it’s completely 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 often remember where information appeared on a page.
I prefer speaking over the phone to texting or emailing.
When I am stressed or worried, I literally feel 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.
When someone gives me directions, I prefer to see a map rather than hear an explanation.
I actually talk to myself when alone.

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