Dark Triad Test
This free Dark Triad test is a 27-statement personality quiz that scores three everyday traits, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, each from 0 to 100%. It takes about five minutes. Everyone scores somewhere on all three, so the results show your personal mix, not a label. It is not a diagnosis, and your answers never leave your browser.
Free · no sign-up · answers never leave your device
Example result
What the Dark Triad test measures
The Dark Triad is a set of three personality traits that share a self-interested core. Narcissism is about wanting admiration and feeling special. Machiavellianism is about strategic, cynical thinking and a willingness to manipulate to reach goals. Psychopathy is about boldness, impulsivity, and lower empathy for other people's distress.
These are ordinary dimensions of personality. Everyone has some of each, the same way everyone has some level of extraversion or conscientiousness. The test simply estimates where your answers place you on each of the three.
Where the idea comes from
Psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams introduced the term Dark Triad in 2002, noticing that these three traits overlapped but were not identical. Since then the field has grown into a large body of research on how the traits relate to work, relationships, leadership, and well-being, including studies of possible upsides such as confidence and strategic thinking.
Our statements are original and written for this site. They are not copied from any published scale, so your result is a friendly estimate rather than a research-grade measurement.
How scoring works
You rate 27 statements, nine per trait, on a scale from disagree to agree. Some statements are reverse-keyed, so agreeing lowers a score rather than raising it, which helps reduce the effect of simply agreeing with everything. Each trait is converted to a 0 to 100% score, where 50% is roughly the middle of the possible range.
You will see all three scores side by side, plus a short description of what your level on each trait tends to look like in daily life, with links to a full page on each trait.
How to read your results
Low, average, and high are all normal. A low score is not automatically good, since very low narcissism can mean undervaluing yourself and very low Machiavellianism can mean being easy to exploit. A high score is not automatically bad, since each trait has features that help in some settings.
Look at the pattern across the three scores rather than any single number, and think about specific situations where the description rings true or misses. Answering honestly, rather than the way you wish you were, makes the result more useful.
Accuracy, limits, and privacy
This quiz is for self-reflection and education. It is not a diagnosis, and it cannot identify any personality disorder or mental health condition. Short self-report quizzes are influenced by mood, self-image, and how carefully you read each item. If you have real concerns about yourself or someone else, talk to a licensed mental health professional.
Your answers are scored entirely in your browser. They are never sent to our servers, never stored in an account, and never shared. Closing the tab erases them unless you choose to save or share your result yourself.
FAQ
Is this a psychopath test?
No. It measures everyday personality traits, including a trait researchers call psychopathy, but it cannot tell you whether anyone is a psychopath or has antisocial personality disorder. It is not a diagnosis. For clinical concerns, please see a licensed professional who can do a proper assessment.
Is this a sociopath test?
No. Sociopath is an informal word, not a current diagnosis. This quiz estimates three normal personality traits and cannot diagnose anything. If you are worried about your own behavior or someone else's, a licensed therapist or psychiatrist is the right person to talk to.
How long does the Dark Triad test take?
Most people finish in about five minutes. There are 27 short statements, and there are no right or wrong answers. Go with your first honest reaction rather than overthinking each one, and you will get a result that reflects how you actually tend to act.
What is a normal Dark Triad score?
Most people land somewhere in the low to middle range on all three traits, with one trait often a bit higher than the others. There is no passing or failing score. Because our items are original, your percentages are best compared across your own three traits rather than with published research norms.
Can my scores change over time?
Yes. Dark Triad traits tend to decrease gradually with age, and your answers can also shift with mood, stress, or your current situation. Taking the test again in a few months is a good way to see which parts of your result are stable and which were tied to the moment.
Are my answers private?
Yes. Everything is calculated in your browser, and your answers never leave your device. We do not ask for your name or email to see results. Only you decide whether to save or share your result.
For self-reflection and entertainment only — not a clinical or diagnostic assessment.
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