Screening
Psychopathy Traits test
Explore callousness, impulsivity and boldness in your personality.
What this test is
Psychopathy in the general population is best understood as a set of personality traits that everyone possesses to some degree, not a binary diagnosis. This screening is inspired by two major research instruments: the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP), which separates primary psychopathy (callousness, manipulation, lack of remorse) from secondary psychopathy (impulsivity, antisocial lifestyle), and the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM), which adds boldness (fearless dominance, low anxiety, social confidence). It measures where you fall on these dimensions. It is not a clinical diagnosis — only a qualified professional using structured instruments such as the PCL-R can assess clinical psychopathy.
This is a screening and self-assessment tool. It cannot diagnose any condition and is not a substitute for assessment by a qualified professional. If you are struggling, please speak with a doctor or a mental health professional.
Who it is for
Anyone who wants a structured description of this side of themselves — for their own understanding, for a conversation with someone close to them, or as preparation for a decision. It is an educational self-assessment: it is not a recruitment instrument and it is not a clinical or diagnostic assessment.
How the test works
You answer 26 statements one at a time on a five-point agreement scale, which takes about 8 minutes. Roughly half the items are reverse-keyed, so agreeing with everything does not inflate your scores. Answers are averaged per dimension and reported as a percentage of the maximum for that dimension, then turned into a written profile.
What you'll receive
- Separate scores for primary psychopathy, secondary psychopathy and boldness
- A written interpretation of each trait dimension
- The strengths and risks associated with your profile
- Guidance on when these traits help — and when they harm
What it measures
Primary Psychopathy (Callousness & Manipulation)
Callous-unemotional traits: shallow affect, lack of empathy and remorse, and a manipulative, calculating interpersonal style. Higher scores indicate more of these traits.
Secondary Psychopathy (Impulsivity & Antisocial Lifestyle)
Impulsive, reactive, sensation-seeking tendencies and a poorly planned, unstable lifestyle. Higher scores indicate more of these traits.
Boldness (Fearless Dominance)
Social confidence, emotional resilience under threat, low anxiety and comfort with risk and uncertainty. Higher scores indicate greater boldness.
Limitations
This is a self-report questionnaire, so it measures how you describe yourself today — which is shaped by mood, recent events and how you would like to be seen. Scores are percentages within this test, not percentile ranks against a population sample. Read the result as a description to think with, not a fact about you. How to interpret your results goes into this in more depth.
Scientific basis
- Levenson, M. R., Kiehl, K. A., & Fitzpatrick, C. M. (1995). Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 68(1), 151–158. View publication
- Patrick, C. J., Fowles, D. C., & Krueger, R. F. (2009). Triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy: Developmental origins of disinhibition, boldness, and meanness. Development and Psychopathology, 21(3), 913–938. View publication
- Patrick, C. J. (2010). Operationalizing the triarchic conceptualization of psychopathy: Preliminary description of brief scales for assessment of boldness, meanness, and disinhibition. Unpublished manual, Florida State University. View publication
- Hare, R. D. (2003). The Hare Psychopathy Checklist–Revised (PCL-R), 2nd ed. Multi-Health Systems. View publication
See all scientific references behind our assessments.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the psychopathy traits test take?
About 8 minutes. There are 26 statements, each answered on a five-point agreement scale, one at a time.
Is the psychopathy traits test free?
Taking the test and seeing your scored preview is free. The complete written report is an optional one-off unlock — there is no subscription.
How are my results calculated?
Each answer becomes a number, reverse-keyed items are flipped, and the items belonging to each dimension are averaged and expressed as a percentage of the maximum for that dimension.
Do I need an account?
No account is needed to start. You create a free account when you finish, so your answers and any unlocked report stay available to you.
Can this assessment diagnose a condition?
No. It is an educational screening self-assessment. It describes what you reported and cannot diagnose anything. Speak with a doctor or a qualified mental health professional if a result concerns you.
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A structured check-in on low mood.