Twenty statements

Twenty statements 'test' is a deceptively simple exercise to prompt reflection about yourself.

Start with the question 'Who am I?'

Now answer that question by making twenty statements that begin 'I am…'.

The arbitrary choice of 20 statements is designed to encourage you to progress beyond the answers that come easily to mind and to think more deeply about your perceptions of yourself and, possibly, to surface some non-conscious self-beliefs.

Kuhn, M. H., & McPartland, T. S. (2017). Twenty Statements Test [Dataset]. https://doi.org/10.1037/t05100-000

Alternative versions

• Temporal shift. As well as 'I am…', make 20 statements starting 'I was…' and 20 statements starting 'I will be…'. This can facilitate an understanding of aspects of yourself that are changing and aspects that are constant.

• VITAE. Complete the statements (perhaps aim for fewer than 20 to make it manageable):

  • 'I achieve…'

  • 'I do/don't…'

  • 'I think/believe…'

  • 'I want/don't want…'

  • 'I care about…'

• Johari window. Get someone who knows you well to complete 20 statements about you ('You are…'). Compare them with your own statements and organise them into the Arena, Façade and Blind spot boxes.