Psychopathy Test
A confidential self-assessment informed by the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP), a research tool that measures psychopathic traits in the general population across two dimensions. Get an instant, plain-language result and a professional PDF report. This is a screening for reflection, not the clinical PCL-R, and never a diagnosis.
Psychopathy Test is a free, confidential 26-question self-assessment, informed by the validated LSRP. It takes about 5 minutes, runs entirely in your browser, and gives you a plain-language score across 3 interpretation bands plus a downloadable PDF report. It is an educational screening, not a diagnosis.
Two dimensions of psychopathic personality traits
Psychopathy is one of the most sensationalized terms in psychology. Researchers actually study it as a set of measurable traits that exist on a spectrum in the general population. This screening looks at two well-established dimensions, with firm caveats about what a self-report tool can and cannot tell you.
Primary traits
The interpersonal and emotional features: a callous, manipulative, low-empathy style, and a tendency to prioritize self-interest. These are the traits most people picture, measured the way researchers do.
Secondary traits
The lifestyle features: impulsivity, poor self-control, quick frustration, and a self-defeating, antisocial streak. This dimension overlaps with anxiety and difficulty coping.
A spectrum, with hard limits
These traits vary across everyone, and a higher score is not a diagnosis. This is not the PCL-R, the clinician-administered instrument, and no self-report quiz can label someone a psychopath.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Based on a validated scale (LSRP) | Sometimes | Yes, faithful to the items |
| Separates primary & secondary traits | No | Yes, two dimensions |
| Explains it is not the PCL-R | No | Yes, clearly |
| Frames traits as a spectrum | Rarely | Yes, no labeling |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, clinician reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
How scoring works
Answers are scored 0–104 in total. Your result falls into one of 3 bands:
| Score | Band | What it suggests |
|---|---|---|
| 0–40 | Low self-reported traits | You agreed with relatively few of the statements. Your self-reported psychopathic traits sit toward the lower end of the spectrum. |
| 41–66 | Moderate self-reported traits | You agreed with a moderate number of the statements, placing your self-reported traits in the middle of the spectrum. |
| 67–104 | High self-reported traits | You agreed with many of the statements, placing your self-reported traits toward the higher end of this spectrum. |
Methodology & sources
The twenty-six questions are based on the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale (LSRP) developed by Levenson, Kiehl, and Fitzpatrick to measure psychopathic traits in non-institutionalized adults. The scale has two subscales: a 16-item primary dimension (a callous, manipulative interpersonal style) and a 10-item secondary dimension (impulsivity and antisocial lifestyle traits). Items are answered on a four-point agreement scale, so total scores range from 0 to 104. Some original items are positively worded and are reverse-scored. The LSRP was designed for research on individual differences, not for clinical assessment.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It carries several important caveats. Self-report psychopathy scales are not diagnostic, and they are not the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), the structured, clinician-administered interview used in research and forensic settings. Psychopathy is not a formal DSM diagnosis at all. These traits exist on a continuum in the general population, most people score in the low-to-moderate range, and a higher score does not mean you are dangerous or a psychopath. We frame everything in terms of traits, never identity.
References
- Levenson MR, Kiehl KA, Fitzpatrick CM. Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995;68(1):151–158.
- Brinkley CA, Schmitt WA, Smith SS, Newman JP. Construct validation of a self-report psychopathy scale: does Levenson's self-report psychopathy scale measure the same constructs as Hare's psychopathy checklist-revised? Pers Individ Dif. 2001;31(7):1021–1038.
- Hare RD, Neumann CS. Psychopathy as a clinical and empirical construct. Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2008;4:217–246.
- Sellbom M. Elaborating on the construct validity of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale in incarcerated and non-incarcerated samples. Law Hum Behav. 2011;35(6):440–451.
Psychopathy Test FAQ
What is a psychopathy test?
This is a short, research-based questionnaire informed by the LSRP, a scale that measures psychopathic personality traits in everyday adults across two dimensions. It gives you a sense of where your self-reported traits sit on a spectrum. It is for reflection only and is not a diagnosis.
Does a high score mean I'm a psychopath?
No. Psychopathy is not even a formal diagnosis, and these traits exist on a continuum in everyone. A higher score means you agreed with more of the trait statements, nothing more. No self-report quiz can determine that someone is a psychopath, and labeling yourself or anyone else that way is inaccurate and harmful.
Is this the same as the PCL-R?
No, and this matters. The Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) is a structured interview administered and scored by trained clinicians, often with collateral records, used in research and forensic settings. A self-report scale like the LSRP measures related traits but is a different, non-clinical tool. They are not interchangeable.
What is the difference between primary and secondary traits?
Primary traits describe a callous, manipulative, low-empathy interpersonal style. Secondary traits describe impulsivity, poor self-control, and an unstable, antisocial lifestyle, and they tend to overlap with anxiety and difficulty coping. Many people score differently on the two, which is part of why a single label is misleading.
Is this test really confidential?
Yes. It runs entirely in your browser. Your answers are never sent to a server, never stored, and never linked to you. No account is needed, and the optional PDF is generated on your own device.
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