Read the paragraph below – imagining Alex to be the same gender as you – then answer the questions that follow. (Fair warning: the results might be incendiary if you’re with your partner at the time.)
Alex is a 20-year-old student at your local university. She (or he) is studying English and is thinking of also taking a couple of history modules. She lives in a house share with three other people near the university and has a part-time job working at the students’ union. One of her favourite things is trying new food; she also enjoys TV, the gym, and live music. Alex is single. Today is Valentine’s Day.
On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 7 (extremely), how fulfilled would you say Alex is? And how happy?
Your reaction to Alex hints at your feelings about your own relationship – or lack of one. When people believe their current relationship status is permanent, they’re more likely to consider it something that’s desirable for others: “The way I am is the way you should be.” But if people see their current situation as temporary, they don’t tend to think it’s so covetable.
Are you in a couple? Giving scores of 4 or lower suggests you’re pretty confident it will last. If you gave scores of 5 or higher, it’s possible you’re not entirely convinced your relationship is permanent. Don’t panic – it may be you’re not the type who projects your own feelings on to others.
Are you single? If you gave scores of 4 or lower you probably see your singleness as a temporary situation. Someone as desirable as you won’t be on the shelf for long, right? Scores of 5 or higher suggest you’re happy with the single life. Enjoy yourself either way!
Read more about the science behind this test at tinyurl.com/nftw8qc. Psy-Q by Ben Ambridge is published by Profile Books at £8.99. To order a copy for £7.19, go to bookshop.theguardian.com
