This quiz is based on the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses: four automatic survival patterns that our nervous systems use to manage threat. The first three (fight, flight, freeze) are rooted in the polyvagal theory developed by Dr. Stephen Porges in the 1990s. The fourth, fawn, was described by therapist Pete Walker in his work on Complex PTSD as a trauma-adaptive response involving appeasement and people-pleasing.
These responses are not personality types. They are patterns your nervous system learned, often early in life, as ways to stay safe. Most people draw on more than one, but tend to have a dominant pattern. Recognizing yours is a useful starting point for understanding your stress behavior without judgment.
Use your results to notice how stress shows up in your body and behavior. With awareness, these patterns can shift. If your stress responses feel deeply ingrained or are affecting your daily life, a therapist can be a genuinely helpful companion for that work.
Research basis: Porges (1994) Polyvagal Theory; Walker (2003) Complex PTSD and the fawn response.
Important: Quizzes on this site are for self-reflection and entertainment purposes only. They are not clinical assessments and do not constitute professional psychological advice. If you are experiencing mental health difficulties, please consult a qualified mental health professional.