Ever wondered if you have the capacity to commit a crime? Well now you can find out, with a new science-backed quiz that takes just a few minutes to complete.
The online tool, created by experts at health website PsychCentral, reveals if you have so-called ‘dark triad’ personality traits that have been linked with criminal behaviour.
Psychologists use the term ‘dark triad’ to identify someone with three personality types; psychopathy, narcissism, and machiavellianism — which are strongly linked to malevolent and antisocial behaviours.
It’s thought people with these traits are more likely to be manipulative and show emotional coldness.
Research suggests personality types in this category may influence criminality and could help to explain why some individuals are more likely to reoffend.
One 2024, study published in Current Psychology asked 471 prisoners in Serbia over the age of 40 to complete a psychology questionnaire. Details of each prisoners’ criminal history and whether they had repeated offenses were recorded.
The results showed that machiavellianism was the most significant predictor of criminal behavior among the dark traits. Those with the personality trait were more likely to engage in repeated offenses.
An online tool, created by health website PsychCentral, reveals if you have ‘dark triad’ personality traits which have been linked with criminal behaviour
Quiz takers are asked 15 questions and given the choice of answering never, sometimes or often before giving a score
It asks if you tend to manipulate others to get your own way, if you are cynical, need to be the centre of attention and if you have been referred to as ‘calculating’
The PsychCentral quiz, which can be accessed here, and takes just a couple of minutes to complete, tests for traits of the dark triad personality type.
The quiz has been adapted from the 2010 research by psychologists Webster and Jonason who created the ‘dirty dozen’ test to identify whether the ‘dark triad’ was present in their patients.
Quiz takers are given 15 statements that are key traits of the personality. They are asked to say how often these statements apply to them and given the choice of answering never, sometimes or often.
Statements include ‘I tend to manipulate others to get my way’, ‘I tend to be cynical’ and ‘I have been referred to as “calculating”.’
A score is then calculated between zero and 15, with zero being someone who doesn’t show signs of the traits of the dark triad personality type and 15 someone who likely does.
The health website warns that ‘those who exhibit some of these traits, such as narcissism, may initially be regarded as charming and highly accomplished.’
Creators of the quiz also urge those who do notice these traits in themselves to consider seeking advise from a mental health professional.
While the information in this quiz can help people figure if they have dark triad traits, the quiz is not designed to give an official medical diagnosis.
