I don't spend much time worrying about how others feel about me, especially those who have already expressed their love.
I don't need constant emotional validation or reassurance from loved ones.
Reassurance is nice when it happens naturally, but I don't actively seek it.
I feel settled and secure in my relationships.
My emotions are stable and don't fluctuate frequently.
I feel generally happy and positive about life.
I don't engage in "doomsday thinking".
I enjoy my independence and feel comfortable spending time alone.
I trust in the consistency of others' feelings, even when they aren’t actively showing affection.
I have confidence in how others feel about me, even when they're not physically present.
I rarely question how people feel about me when I’m not around.
I trust that my partner, friends, or family love me as much as they say they do.
I don't feel the need to ask if people are upset with me, trusting the strength of our connections.
I remain calm if someone doesn’t reply to my text right away, assuming the best.
When my partner leaves the room, I know they will return and don’t feel anxious.
What is emotional permanence?
Emotional permanence is defined as the capacity to believe that others love and care about you even when they’re apart or not actively expressing their love and care. It’s believing that others’ feelings for you are permanent. Emotional permanence increases the sense of trust and security in the relationship.
Emotional permanence is borrowed from object permanence, a developmental milestone people go through when they understand that out of sight doesn’t mean out of reality.1Resnick, A. (2023, November 16). How to develop your sense of emotional permanence. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/emotional-permanence-7963450
Emotional impermanence, the opposite concept, is when you doubt others’ feelings for you when they’re not present or actively expressing them. Emotional impermanence leads to feelings of doubt and abandonment, which in turn leads to unstable relationships.
People with insecure attachment styles, especially the Anxious Preoccupied, are likely to suffer from emotional impermanence.2Perry, E. (2024). Clearing a personalized path to emotional permanence. BetterUp.https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotional-permanence They constantly seek validation and reassurance because they believe that feelings disappear when the person disappears.
About the test
This test consists of 15 items having a Yes/No format. It’s based on the symptoms of emotional permanence. It’s anonymous and free to take. We neither store nor share your data. It’s purely for educational purposes and isn’t meant to be a diagnosis. If you get a low score, it’s recommended that you seek help.
References
- 1Resnick, A. (2023, November 16). How to develop your sense of emotional permanence. Verywell Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/emotional-permanence-7963450
- 2Perry, E. (2024). Clearing a personalized path to emotional permanence. BetterUp.https://www.betterup.com/blog/emotional-permanence
