GRITT Stress Test - Explanatory Style

Learned Optimism

On average the test takes about fifteen minutes. There are no right or wrong answers. It is important that you take the test before you read the analysis which follows it, in order to assure that your answers will not be biased. Read the description of each situation and vividly imagine it happening to you. You have probably not experienced some of the situations, but that doesn’t matter. Perhaps neither response will seem to fit; go ahead anyway and circle either A or B, choosing the cause likelier to apply to you. You may not like the way some of the responses sound, but don’t choose what you think you should say or what would sound right to other people; choose the response you’d be likelier to have. Circle only one response for each question. Ignore the letter and number codes for now.

Question Title

* 1. Name

Name

Company

City/Town

State/Province

Email Address

Question Title

* 2. The project you are in charge of is a great success.

I kept a close watch over everyone’s work

Everyone devoted a lot of time and energy to it.

Question Title

* 3. You and your spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) make up after a fight.

I forgave him/her

I'm usually forgiving.

Question Title

* 4. You get lost driving to a friend's house.

I missed a turn.

My friend gave me bad directions.

Question Title

* 5. Your spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) surprises you with a gift.

He/she just got a raise at work.

I took him/her out to a special dinner the night before.

Question Title

* 6. You forget your spouse's (boyfriend's/girlfriend's) birthday.

I'm not good at remembering birthdays.

I was preoccupied with other things.

Question Title

* 7. You get a flower from a secret admirer.

I am attractive to him/her.

I am a popular person.

Question Title

* 8. You run for a community office position, and you win.

I devote a lot of time and energy to campaigning.

I work very hard at everything I do.

Question Title

* 9. You miss an important engagement.

Sometimes my memory fails me.

I sometimes forget to check my appointment book.

Question Title

* 10. You run for a community office, and you lose.

I didn't campaign hard enough.

The person who won knew more people.

Question Title

* 11. You host a successful dinner.

I was particularly charming that night.

I am a good host.

Question Title

* 12. You stop a crime by calling the police.

A strange noise caught my attention

I was alert that day.

Question Title

* 13. You were extremely healthy all year.

Few people around me were sick, so I wasn't exposed.

I made sure I ate well and got enough rest.

Question Title

* 14. You owe the library ten dollars for an overdue book

When I am really involved in what I am reading, I often forget when it is due.

I was so involved in writing the report that I forgot to return the book.

Question Title

* 15. Your stocks make you a lot of money.

My broker decided to take on something new.

My broker is a top-notch investor.

Question Title

* 16. You win an athletic contest.

I was feeling unbeatable.

I train hard.

Question Title

* 17. You fail an important examination.

I wasn't as smart as the other people taking the exam.

I didn't prepare for it well.

Question Title

* 18. You prepared a special meal for a friend and he/she barely touched the food.

I wasn't a good cook.

I made the meal in a rush.

Question Title

* 19. You lose a sporting event for which you have been training for a long time.

I'm not very athletic.

I'm not good at that sport.

Question Title

* 20. Your car runs out of gas on a dark street late at night.

I didn't check to see how much gas was in the tank.

The gas gauge was broken.

Question Title

* 21. You lose your temper with a friend.

He/she is always nagging me.

He/she was in a hostile mood.

Question Title

* 22. You are penalized for not returning your income tax forms on time.

I always put off doing my taxes.

I was lazy about getting my taxes done this year.

Question Title

* 23. You ask a person out on a date and he/she says no

I was a wreck that day.

I got tongue-tied when I asked him/her on the date.

Question Title

* 24. A game-show host picks you out of the audience to participate in the show.

I was sitting in the right seat.

I looked the most enthusiastic.

Question Title

* 25. You are frequently asked to dance at a party.

I am outgoing at parties.

I was in perfect form that night.

Question Title

* 26. You buy your spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) a gift and he/she doesn't like it.

I don't put enough thought into things like that.

He/she has very picky tastes.

Question Title

* 27. You do exceptionally well in a job interview.

I felt extremely confident during the interview.

I interview well.

Question Title

* 28. You tell a joke, and everyone laughs.

The joke was funny.

My timing was perfect.

Question Title

* 29. Your boss gives you too little time in which to finish a project, but you get it finished anyway.

I am good at my job.

I am an efficient person.

Question Title

* 30. You've been feeling run-down lately.

I never get a chance to relax.

I was exceptionally busy this week.

Question Title

* 31. You ask someone to dance and he/she says no.

I am not a good enough dancer.

He/she doesn't like to dance.

Question Title

* 32. You save a person from choking to death.

I know a technique to stop someone from choking.

I know what to do in crisis situations.

Question Title

* 33. Your romantic partner wants to cool things off for a while.

I'm too self-centered.

I don't spend enough time with him/her.

Question Title

* 34. A friend says something that hurts your feelings.

Your friend always blurts things out without thinking of others.

My friend was in a bad mood and took it out on me.

Question Title

* 35. Your employer comes to you for advice.

I am an expert in the area about which I was asked.

I am good at giving useful advice.

Question Title

* 36. A friend thanks you for helping him/her get through a bad time.

I enjoy helping him/her through tough times.

I care about people.

Question Title

* 37. You have a wonderful time at a party.

Everyone was friendly.

I was friendly.

Question Title

* 38. Your doctor tells you that you are in good physical shape.

I make sure I exercise frequently.

I am very health conscious.

Question Title

* 39. Your spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) takes you away for a romantic weekend.

He/she needed to get away for a few days.

He/she likes to explore new areas.

Question Title

* 40. Your doctor tells you that you eat too much sugar.

I don't pay much attention to my diet.

You can't avoid sugar, it's in everything.

Question Title

* 41. You are asked to head an important project.

I just successfully completed a similar project.

I am a good supervisor.

Question Title

* 42. You and your spouse (boyfriend/girlfriend) have been fighting a great deal.

I have been feeling cranky and pressured lately.

He/she has been hostile lately.

Question Title

* 43. You fall down a great deal while skiing.

Skiing is difficult.

The trails were icy.

Question Title

* 44. You win a prestigous award.

I solved an important problem.

I was the best employee.

Question Title

* 45. Your stocks are at an all time low.

I didn't know much about the business climate at the time.

I made a poor choice of stocks.

Question Title

* 46. You win the lottery.

It was pure chance.

I picked the right numbers.

Question Title

* 47. You gain weight over the holidays and can't lose it.

Diets don't work in the long run.

The diet I tried didn't work.

Question Title

* 48. You are in the hospital and few people come to visit.

I'm irritable when I am sick.

My friends are negligent about things like that.

Question Title

* 49. They won't honor your credit card at a store.

I sometimes overestimate how much money I have.

I sometimes forget to pay my credit card bill.

Thank you for completing the Explanatory Style diagnostic portion of the GRITT Stress Test.

Please note that this system does not provide raw scores or automated rankings upon completion. These assessments, including your Character Strengths, Meaning in Life, and Workplace PERMA, are designed to be analyzed as a cohesive ecosystem, not as isolated data points.

The Path Forward: GRITT Business Coaching is currently synthesizing your data. We will provide you with a high-impact, integrated report that translates these results into actionable leadership and resilience strategies.

Next Step: > Please check your email for a message from GRITT Business Coaching to confirm your debrief session. We look forward to diving into the results with you.