Dark Triad Test
Machiavellianism, Narcissism & Psychopathy
Manipulative? Grandiose? Cold-hearted? The Dark Triad captures three socially aversive personality traits - Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy - in just 12 questions. Based on the Dirty Dozen scale (Jonason & Webster, 2010). Takes about 3 minutes.
What Is the Dark Triad (Dirty Dozen)?
The Dark Triad bundles three socially unpleasant personality traits: Machiavellianism (strategic manipulation), Narcissism (inflated self-importance), and Psychopathy (callousness and impulsivity). They overlap but are distinct enough to measure separately.
The Dirty Dozen (Jonason & Webster, 2010) gets you all three with just 12 items — 4 per trait. It takes about 3 minutes.
What It Measures
| Trait | Core Idea | 4 Items Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Machiavellianism | Strategic, calculating, willing to manipulate | Cynicism, exploitation, flattery, self-interest |
| Narcissism | Grandiose sense of self-importance | Vanity, superiority, entitlement, exhibitionism |
| Psychopathy | Lack of empathy, impulsivity, callousness | Remorselessness, cruelty, insensitivity, rebelliousness |
How Scoring Works
Rate each item from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree). Each trait score is the sum of its 4 items. There are no clinical cutoffs — this is a research tool, not a diagnosis.
Reliability
- Internal consistency: alpha = .83-.87 per trait
- Test-retest: .87 at 3 weeks
- Correlates well with longer measures like the full Dark Triad measures
Scoring Guide
12 items, 7-point Likert (1=Strongly disagree, 7=Strongly agree). No reverse-scored items. Three subscales (mean of 4 items each): Machiavellianism (Q1-Q4), Narcissism (Q5-Q8), Psychopathy (Q9-Q12). Total score range: 12-84.Result Interpretation
After completing the 12 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.