Bullshitting Frequency Scale (BFS)
People sometimes embellish, exaggerate, or stretch the truth in everyday conversations. Psychological research suggests that this behavior is not random — it tends to serve different social purposes. Broadly, bullshitting can be motivated by two relatively distinct goals: avoiding negative consequences or influencing others’ impressions and beliefs.
While most people occasionally engage in some form of minor exaggeration, individuals differ in how frequently they do so and in the situations that trigger it. Understanding these tendencies can provide insight into communication style, impression management, social strategy, and interpersonal functioning.
For each of the following statements, indicate how frequently you engage in the described behavior.
Question 1 of 12
Over When interacting with other people, I stretch or embellish the truth...
By pretending to know more about a topic than I actually do
| Disagree | Agree |
NEXT
The Bullshitting Frequency Scale (BFS) was developed by Shane Littrell, Evan F. Risko, and Jonathan A. Fugelsang (2020) to measure how often individuals engage in everyday bullshitting behavior. The researchers distinguished bullshitting from lying by defining it as communication that is unconcerned with the truth — typically involving exaggeration, embellishment, or speaking beyond one’s knowledge — rather than deliberate fabrication of known falsehoods.
The BFS assesses two related but distinct forms of bullshitting:
Persuasive Bullshitting (BFSp)
Persuasive bullshitting reflects the tendency to exaggerate or stretch the truth in order to influence others. This may include trying to appear more knowledgeable, impressive, interesting, or convincing. Individuals higher in persuasive bullshitting may engage in strategic self-enhancement or attempt to shape others’ beliefs and attitudes through confident overstatement.
Importantly, this does not necessarily imply malicious intent. In many cases, persuasive bullshitting may function as a social strategy aimed at gaining status, approval, or influence in conversation.
Evasive Bullshitting (BSFe)
Evasive bullshitting reflects the tendency to stretch the truth to avoid negative outcomes. This may include protecting someone’s feelings, avoiding embarrassment, staying out of trouble, or concealing one’s true thoughts or lack of knowledge.
Individuals higher in evasive bullshitting may be more likely to engage in impression management when honesty feels risky or uncomfortable. Rather than aiming to persuade, the primary goal is avoidance of social cost.
Two Independent Dimensions
One important finding from research on the BFS is that persuasive and evasive bullshitting are related but distinct tendencies. A person may score:
- High on both (frequently exaggerating both to impress and to avoid consequences),
- Low on both (rarely stretching the truth in social situations),
- High on one and low on the other.
This two-factor structure has been supported in empirical validation studies.
Research Applications
The BFS has been used in studies examining:
- Overconfidence and overclaiming
- Narcissism and self-enhancement
- Social intelligence and impression management
- Susceptibility to misinformation
- Communication styles in interpersonal contexts
Findings suggest that higher persuasive bullshitting is often associated with overconfidence and self-presentation motives, whereas evasive bullshitting is more closely tied to conflict avoidance and social risk management.
Important Note
This test is not a clinical diagnostic tool. It is designed as an educational and informational instrument to help individuals reflect on their communication tendencies.
While the BFS is grounded in peer-reviewed psychological research, free online self-report measures cannot provide definitive conclusions about personality or character. Scores should be interpreted as general tendencies rather than fixed traits. Professional psychological assessment requires structured interviews and validated multi-method procedures conducted by qualified professionals.
This instrument is provided “as-is” for educational purposes and does not constitute professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
References
- Littrell, S., Risko, E. F., & Fugelsang, J. A. (2020). The Bullshitting Frequency Scale: Development and validation of a measure of everyday bullshitting. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Why Use This Test?
1. Free. Receive your overall BFS score plus subscale scores.
2. Research-based. Built from peer-reviewed psychological research.
3. Nuanced insight. Distinguishes between persuasive and evasive motives.
4. Social self-awareness. Helps you understand your communication strategies.