How Much Self-Control Do You Really Have?

By: Mark Lichtenstein
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
How Much Self-Control Do You Really Have?
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Every person has a proverbial fuse that, when lit, gives us a set amount of time until we blow up. Some have a short fuse, while others take ages until they are overcome with rage. How much self-control do you really have?
You hear nails on a chalkboard. What do you do?
I remind myself it will be over soon.
I politely ask for it to stop.
I yell for it to stop.
I stand up, walk over to the person with the nail, and fart in their direction.

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You came into the station just as the train is leaving. What do you say?
Oh, well.
Darn it!
Damn it!
I hate you, God! I hate you, and I hate the train and I hate everything!

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One cookie now, or two cookies later?
One later! I don't need two.
Two later
One now
Two now!

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How often do you do laundry?
Once a week
When I'm running low on undies.
When my basket smells.
When I have no clothing left.

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How often are you late?
Ten minutes early is on time.
I'm on time!
I'm five minutes late, sometimes.
Frequently

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Do you always take your daily medicine?
Doctor's orders!
I usually do, unless my symptoms are going away.
I do if it's a fun drug.
Nope

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How often do you work out?
Five times a week
Three times a week
Once a week
Never!

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When did you last eat your five fruits and veggies in a day?
Today!
Last week
Last year
What? I have to eat five?

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Assuming you haven't permanently fallen out, do you call your mom?
I do, regularly.
I do, sometimes.
I do, every once in a while.
I don't.

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Do you have good boundaries?
I definitely do.
I think I do.
I don't think I do.
I don't.

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Do you know how to switch off?
Like a light
If I can have a nice cold beer.
If I can get out of the city.
No

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Can you multi-task?
I can.
I usually can.
Not really
Not even a little

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Do you find yelling honestly cathartic?
No
Rarely
Sometimes
Of course it is!

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Have you ever smacked someone, just a little bit?
Not outside self defense
Once
A few times
All too often

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How's your blood pressure?
Really low
It's average.
It's not awful.
I'm a walking time bomb.

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Have you recently slammed a door?
Nope
Not recently
Not this month
I just did!

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You're invited to a party the night before the big exam. The hottest guy in the world is going to be there and he's single right now. Do you go?
No. I have work to do.
I might go if I can get all my work done early.
I might go if I make a dent in my work.
I am going!

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There's a button coming off your shirt. How soon after noticing do you sew it back on firmly?
I fix it at the earliest opportunity.
I sew it on when I get home.
I send it to the cleaner to get fixed.
I get a new shirt.

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Do you know how to sing like no one's listening?
Only when no one is listening.
Only in my car
Only in the shower
I sing like no one is listening when people are definitely listening.

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Have you ever written a really angry letter and then not sent it?
I do that all the time.
I do it sometimes.
I usually send the letters.
What's the point if you don't send it?

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Are you in as good shape as you would like to be, broadly speaking?
I am exactly as I want to be, within my physical capabilities.
I'm close enough.
I'm not happy with myself.
I'm a mess.

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Do your colleagues think of you as dependable?
Always
Usually
Sometimes
Never

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Have you ever gone to work when you were grieving something really bad, and not told a soul there?
I have, several times.
I did once. I cried a lot after.
I've never been in that situation.
Nope, I tell everyone everything about me.

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Do people see you as a shoulder they can cry on?
Mostly
Some do
No one does
I'm the reason they cry.

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You see someone being bullied. How do you handle it?
I step in and push back.
I tell the bully his or her parents will never love them.
I say nothing.
I take notes.

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You committed to run a race for charity but halfway through you realize you're running on fumes. What do you do?
Walk the rest of the way.
Take a nice long rest.
Cheat and take a shortcut.
Quit.

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How many of your socks still match?
All of them!
All but one loner I have.
Most of them
I have a matching pair.

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Have you ever gone unprepared into a job interview?
Never
Once. I learned my lesson.
A few times
Frequently

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Do you take pride in being a good friend?
I do.
I try.
I usually try.
Nah

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Whether or not you're your parents' favorite child, based on behavior: should you be?
I should be.
I do have one sibling who is perfect, but I should be number two.
Probably not
Definitely not

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You Got: