Dark Dozen Test

Cynicism: People high in cynicism are characterized by a contemptuous stance toward others and tend to pursue their own interests with little regard to what is normally perceived as fair. Cynical people have a pessimistic view of human nature and often believe that trusting others is a recipe for disaster. Likewise, they do not see the point of being altruistic.

Immorality: Individuals with an immoral disposition tend to believe that the end justifies the means and that it is perfectly reasonable to be dishonest and conniving when necessary. Named after the Italian philosopher Machiavelli, the dictum that to get ahead in life “one must learn how not to be good” very much characterizes the outlook of such people.

Detachment: People with Machiavellian tendencies often do not invest emotionally in their relationships. Instead, they see friendships and intimate connections as tools for furthering their own advancement. Such people often have a muffled emotional life and are distanced from the sentiments that normally bind people together. However, many are still able to fake such emotions – for example, by appearing charismatic and sweet when they need to do so to further their own ends.

Interpersonal Manipulation: This facet of Machiavellianism includes the tendency to be cunning and manipulate others for one’s own gain. Such people often think of interpersonal situations as something akin to a game of chess, and many think many moves ahead about how they should present themselves in order to get what they want from others.

Thrill Seeking: Individuals high on thrill-seeking are prone to boredom and liable to seek out extreme experiences to compensate for this. Their need for stimulation drives them to make impulsive decisions that cause problems to themselves as well as to the people around them. Very high scorers may also feel that the element of danger is an important part of having fun.

Overt Antisociality: This facet includes a mix of anger that is easily roused, a criminal disposition, and a lack of impulse control. Only rarely have people high in overt antisociality been observed to mend their ways; this component of the psychopathic temperament likely has strong genetic origins. In everyday life, people high in overt antisociality can be recognized from their rebellious and antagonistic lifestyles – they do not care about or feel bound by social norms the way others do. They may be charming and successful but, underneath, their lack of stability and long-term planning will usually be evident.

Risky Behavior: People high in this trait have poor impulse controls. This symptom does not, in and of itself, code for psychopathy, but it is nevertheless often seen as a facet among people high in psychopathy. Such people are usually willing to take risks that others would consider excessive, often while giving little thought to the consequences of their actions.

Antisocial Aggression: Individuals high in psychopathic aggression manifest abrasive tendencies such as the inclination to get into physical fights, confrontations, and other tactics that inflict or involve physical or emotional pain. Such people are also likely to commit crimes and break the self-esteem of the people around them. Since such people lack empathy, they are rarely inclined to feel bad about their actions.

Exploitativeness: People with narcissistic tendencies are seen by others as interpersonally exploitative. They take others for granted and use others to achieve their own prospects and goals. On the other hand, people with narcissistic traits rarely experience themselves this way since they simply see interpersonal situations through the lens of what others can do for them.

Status Seeking: Narcissistic individuals tend to pursue markers of success and achievement that allow them to present themselves as superior and which commonly elicit admiration from others. People high in status-seeking are often more concerned with whether they are accorded privilege and status than whether their underlying accomplishments actually make them worthy of such attention.

Grandiose Self: People high in narcissism often have a grandiose sense of entitlement. They tend to overestimate their abilities and importance and may exaggerate their accomplishments while downplaying the contributions of others. People high in this symptom often believe that they are special and have an inflated sense of self-importance.

Haughtiness/Insouciance: Narcissistic individuals often come across as arrogant, self-satisfied, conceited, and boastful in the eyes of others. Likewise, many narcissists present themselves as self-important and above the rules.