Psychopathy Test (LSRP)
Levenson et al. (1995) · 26 items · how much callousness and impulsivity do you carry?
How do you feel about using people? Do you feel guilty when you hurt someone - or is it survival of the fittest? The Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) uses 26 items to measure two sides of psychopathic traits: primary psychopathy (callousness, manipulation, self-centeredness) and secondary psychopathy (impulsivity, boredom, poor planning). About 3 minutes. A research instrument, not a diagnostic tool.
What This Test Measures
Pop culture paints psychopathy as “born criminal”, but researchers treat it as a set of continuous traits - callousness, manipulation, impulsivity, low guilt - that everyone has a little of. The LSRP, developed by Levenson, Kiehl, and Fitzpatrick in 1995, is one of the few self-report psychopathy scales designed for non-clinical populations. Its 26 items do not ask whether you are a psychopath; they locate where you fall on these traits.
Two Sides
Primary psychopathy (16 items): the emotional and interpersonal core - callousness, manipulation, self-centeredness, lack of empathy and guilt. The “charming manipulator” side.
Secondary psychopathy (10 items): the behavioral and lifestyle side - impulsivity, boredom, poor planning, quick temper, repeating the same mistakes. More “chaos” than “cold”.
The two sides are not the same thing: you can be cold without being chaotic, or chaotic without being cold. That is why the results are reported as two subscales plus a total.
Scoring & Interpretation
Higher scores mean more of the trait. Use the results for self-understanding, not diagnosis.
Reliability & Validity
In the development sample (487 undergraduates) the primary subscale had alpha = .82; secondary was lower at .63, so read that subscale with some caution. The Chinese version (Shou et al., 2016) was validated on 226 Chinese university students and supports a three-factor structure. Total scores correlate moderately with self-reported misconduct and impulsivity.
This test is for education and self-exploration only. It is not a clinical diagnostic instrument.
Result Interpretation
After completing the 26 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
- Dimension breakdown — separate scores for each sub-scale
- Context — how your results compare to general population norms where available
All results are displayed on screen. No account or login needed.