Four-Factor Imagination Scale

Asessing the frequency, complexity, emotional valence, and directedness of imagination
Hosted By Aphantasia Network
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How does your imagination work?

The Four-Factor Imagination Scale (FFIS) is a psychological measure that assesses four distinct aspects of imagination:

  • Frequency: How often you engage in imaginative thinking
  • Complexity: How detailed and intricate your imaginings are
  • Emotional Valence: The emotional tone of your imaginings
  • Directedness: How purposeful or goal-oriented your imaginings are

Note: This survey is not a diagnostic tool. It is part of a research study exploring potential subtypes of imagery experiences, including aphantasia and hyperphantasia.

Instructions: Below are a series of statements about imagination and daydreaming. Please read each statement carefully and indicate how accurately it describes you. There are no right or wrong answers, so please be as honest as possible in your responses.

How accurately does each statement describe you?

I have difficulty picturing the details of a situation I have not previously experienced
My daydreams have a clear goal
My fantasies do not involve many details
I am lost in imagination most of the time
Sometimes it is as though I wake up from daydreaming
My fantasies are quite purposeful
I become depressed when imagining my future
There is a purpose for my fantasies
I find myself daydreaming often
I find myself lost in imagination very frequently
Imagining my future makes me feel blue
I spend much of my time daydreaming
I often fantasize about impossible things
My mind wanders in unpredictable ways
When I imagine my future, I like to plan its details
I visualize negative outcomes for the future of the world
I get lost in my fantasies
Imagining things in the future makes me fearful
I get lost in thoughts that aren't related to what's going on around me
My fantasies lead to negative emotions
The things I imagine make me sad
My daydreams are unpleasant
My daydreams are directed towards a specific outcome
My fantasies are less detailed than most peoples'
Most people seem to have more complex imaginations than me
My imaginings are not very complex
Zabelina, D. L., & Condon, D. M. (2020). The Four-Factor Imagination Scale (FFIS): a measure for assessing frequency, complexity, emotional valence, and directedness of imagination. Psychological Research, 84(8), 2287–2299. doi:10.1007/s00426-019-01227-w

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