Dark Core of Personality (D-Factor)
Everyone has a dark side. The D-Factor measures the dark core of personality — the shared root of egotism, cruelty, and deceit.
The D-Factor measures the dark core of personality — the tendency to pursue self-interest at others' expense. 16 items, based on Moshagen et al. (2020).
The dark core of personality
The D-Factor (Dark Factor of Personality) measures the common core underlying all dark personality traits — Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and more. It's the tendency to maximize your own utility at the expense of others, while justifying or causing harm.
What the D-Factor means
The D-Factor shows up as:
- Egoism — prioritizing your own interests
- Moral disengagement — justifying harmful behavior
- Disregard for others — seeing people as tools or obstacles
- Antagonism — hostility and callousness
About this scale
Morten Moshagen and colleagues developed the D-Factor concept in 2018. They proposed that all dark personality traits share a common core — a general tendency toward selfish, antisocial behavior.
Higher D-Factor scores go with:
- Unethical decision-making
- Aggression and violence
- Counterproductive work behavior
- Relationship problems
The four bands are points on a continuous scale, not four types of people.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 16 questions, you'll receive an immediate, detailed report with:
- Your score — calculated automatically based on your responses
- Score interpretation — what your score means in practical terms
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.