Evidence & References
Updated: June 22, 2026
Each of feelroot’s four tools is designed on an established psychological theory and its research — values on Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Values, strengths on the VIA classification, future selves on Possible Selves theory, and thoughts on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
That said, feelroot is not a standardized psychometric assessment with established reliability and validity. It follows these frameworks faithfully but renders their insights as a short self-reflection experience; results are a “mirror of who you are today,” not a diagnosis. For formal measurement, we recommend the official instruments in each field (e.g., VIA-IS, PVQ-RR).
My Value Journey — Values
The flow of exploring core values is based on Shalom Schwartz’s Theory of Basic Human Values: people hold universal values in differing priorities, with tensions and balance among them.
Your Strengths Map — Character Strengths
Choosing strengths and examining their “imbalance” (overuse / underuse) is based on the VIA classification of character strengths and the “golden mean”: a strength can become a difficulty when overused or underused.
Two Future Selves — Possible Selves
Picturing a hoped-for self alongside a feared self is based on Markus & Nurius’s “Possible Selves,” and Oyserman’s work showing that balance between hoped-for and feared selves drives motivation.
Find Your Balance — CBT
Noticing the thoughts that hook you (cognitive distortions) and setting a balanced view beside them comes from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy’s cognitive restructuring and thought records. Balancing is not suppressing a thought or swapping it for a “good” one — it is adding another, evidence-based perspective next to it.
- Beck, A. T. (1979). Cognitive Therapy and the Emotional Disorders.
- Burns, D. D. (1980). Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy — list of cognitive distortions.
- Greenberger, D., & Padesky, C. A. (1995). Mind Over Mood — thought records.
- de-Oliveira, I. R., et al. Cognitive Distortions Questionnaire (CD-Quest) — multi-country validation.
On safety & ethics
To keep the reflection emotionally safe, we also drew on research in self-compassion and the ethics of digital mental health (informed consent, non-maleficence, privacy).
- Neff, K. D. — research on Self-Compassion.
- Ethics of digital mental-health tools — informed consent, non-maleficence, privacy.
If you need to talk to someone
Again: feelroot’s results are a mirror for reflection, not a diagnosis or validated test. If you are struggling, please reach out for professional help.