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Personality trait assessment
Free Dark Triad Test: Narcissism, Machiavellianism & Psychopathy
How much do self-focus, strategy and a taste for risk shape your personality? In 36 questions, see where you fall on three everyday traits, with an instant, personalized interpretation written for your exact answers.
Free · 36 questions · About 7 minutes · Instant interpretation
What you’ll discover
Three traits, one honest look
Researchers use the name Dark Triad for three personality traits that everyone has to some degree: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Most people score somewhere in the middle. This test shows where you land on each, and what that looks like in daily life.
Three separate scores
Narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy each get their own score from 0 to 100, so you see your pattern and not just one number.
What sits underneath
Each trait has three parts, such as cynicism or thrill-seeking. Your write-up points out where one part stands apart from the rest.
How they fit together
The three traits overlap but are not the same. You get a plain-language look at how your mix shows up at home, with friends and at work.
Personalized results, not a form letter
Most Dark Triad quizzes hand you three numbers and a scary label. Your interpretation is written for your exact answers, including which traits stand out, what they cost and what they are good for.
The test
Take the Dark Triad Test
36 statements, about 7 minutes. For each one, choose how well it describes you as you usually are, not as you would like to be. There are no right or wrong answers, and your personalized interpretation appears as soon as you finish.
What it measures
The three traits, in plain terms
None of these is a diagnosis, and none is all bad. Each one has a useful side and a cost. This test splits each trait into three parts, so your result is more detailed than a single score.
Trait one
Narcissism
Self-importance and a wish to be seen. The three parts are grandiosity, entitlement and status-seeking. In small doses it looks like confidence and drive.
Trait two
Machiavellianism
A strategic, guarded way of dealing with people. The three parts are cynicism, strategic maneuvering and a belief that the ends justify the means.
Trait three
Psychopathy
As a personality trait, not a diagnosis: a cool, bold, impulsive streak. The three parts are callousness, thrill-seeking and rule-bending.
Your scores
How to read your results
Each trait is scored from 0 to 100 and placed in a band. The bands describe where you sit on this scale. They do not compare you with other people, and they are approximate, so a score near the edge of a band can be read either way.
The research
What the research says, and its limits
The term Dark Triad comes from psychologists Delroy Paulhus and Kevin Williams, who described the three traits together in 2002. Since then it has become a common framework for studying everyday personality, from work behavior to relationships.
- It measures traits, not disorders. The Dark Triad describes normal personality differences in the general population.
- The three traits overlap. They share a cold, self-serving streak, but each also has its own features, which is why you get three scores.
- It relies on self-report. Results reflect how you see yourself, and honest, self-aware answers matter.
- Scores can shift. Mood, circumstances and how you read a statement can move your answers a little.
- The sub-scores are rougher. Each part rests on four questions, so treat them as hints, not measurements.
What your results can’t tell you
About this version
The Hypnotechs Dark Triad Test is an original 36-question assessment that takes about 7 minutes. Its questions were written for Hypnotechs and are not copied from any published test. Every result includes an immediate, personalized interpretation.
FAQ
Dark Triad test: common questions
What is the Dark Triad?
It is a name psychologists use for three related personality traits: narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy. Everyone has some of each, and researchers study them as ordinary differences between people.
How many questions are there, and how long does it take?
The test has 36 statements and takes about 7 minutes.
What do I get at the end of the test?
Three scores from 0 to 100, and an instant interpretation written for your exact answers, including which parts of each trait stand out and how they may help or hurt you.
Does a high score mean something is wrong with me?
No. The test measures traits that everyone has to some degree. It cannot diagnose a disorder, and a high score is a starting point for reflection, not a verdict.
Is a low score better?
Not automatically. Some of what these traits cover, like planning ahead or standing up for yourself, is useful. Very low scores can mean hesitating to claim credit or protect your own interests.
Can I use this test to find out if someone else is a narcissist or a psychopath?
No. It is designed for self-reflection, and answering for someone else will not give an accurate result.
Is this the same as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory?
No. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory looks only at narcissism. This test covers three traits, and its questions are different. If you want a closer look at narcissism, you can take that test too.
Can my scores change?
Yes. Mood, life events and how you read a statement can move your answers a little, and personality traits can shift over a lifetime.
Is this test free?
Yes. The Dark Triad Test on Hypnotechs is completely free, including your personalized interpretation, and you do not need an account to take it.
Curious about the narcissism side?
Take a closer look at everyday narcissistic traits with the free Narcissistic Personality Inventory, including an instant, personalized interpretation.
This Dark Triad Test is an educational self-assessment by Hypnotechs. It measures everyday personality traits and cannot diagnose a personality disorder or any other condition.