A 27-item questionnaire that screens for the three “dark” personality traits: Machiavellianism, Narcissism, and Psychopathy.

  • Answer based on how you typically feel and behave.
  • Most people finish in < 3 minutes.
  • There are no right or wrong answers.
  • Your responses stay on this device; nothing is uploaded.
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Your Answers
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Tags: Psychology , Psychometrics
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Machiavellianism, narcissism, and psychopathy are three personality tendencies often grouped as the dark triad and studied for their impact on trust, influence, and impulse control. An SD3 screen offers a clear snapshot of your tilt across these tendencies so you can reflect on everyday choices and relationships.

You respond to short attitudinal statements and receive an average score for each trait on a five point scale. A comparison to community means shows whether your responses sit near typical levels or lean higher or lower, which helps you notice patterns you may want to reinforce or moderate.

Use the results to guide conversations about teamwork, negotiation, and boundaries. Small changes in context or mood can shift answers, so repeating the screen after a steady week can make comparisons easier.

Treat your profile as a prompt for reflection rather than a label. Results are for education and do not replace professional advice.

Technical Details:

The assessment records agreement with 27 statements on a five point Likert scale and computes arithmetic means for three traits: Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, and Narcissism. Each quantity is a snapshot of endorsement, not a diagnosis, and it summarizes responses across items that belong to that trait.

Each trait score is the mean of its nine items after applying reverse scoring where specified. Reverse scoring converts a response v to 6 − v, preserving a 1 to 5 range while aligning item direction so higher values always indicate stronger endorsement of the trait.

Results are interpreted relative to built‑in community means: Machiavellianism 3.10, Psychopathy 2.40, Narcissism 2.80. The difference Δ between your score and the mean is banded as very elevated, elevated, typical, or lower than typical. A balance descriptor reflects the spread between your highest and lowest trait means.

Comparisons are most meaningful within the same person over time and with consistent conditions. Population differences are not modeled; bands come directly from the thresholds shown below.

T = ∑si' nT  for  i ∈ IT si' = if item is reversed: 6−si else: si
Symbol Meaning Unit/Datatype Source
T Trait mean (Machiavellianism, Psychopathy, or Narcissism) 1 to 5 number Derived
IT Index set of items belonging to trait T 9 indices Constant
nT Number of items for trait T 9 Constant
si Recorded response to item i Integer 1 to 5 Input
si' Response after reverse scoring (if applicable) Integer 1 to 5 Derived
μT Community mean for trait T Number Constant
Δ Difference from community mean (T − μT) Number Derived
Worked example (illustrative subset)

Narcissism items include reversals. Suppose three items are answered as 4, 2, and 3, with the second and third reversed.

s10' = 4 s11' = 6−2=4 s17' = 6−3=3 T(Narcissism, sample of 3) = 4+4+3 3 =3.67 Δ = 3.67−2.80=0.87(very elevated in this example)
The full calculation uses all nine items per trait; this miniature example demonstrates reverse scoring and banding.
Trait Community Mean
Machiavellianism 3.10
Psychopathy 2.40
Narcissism 2.80
Band Δ Lower Bound Δ Upper Bound Interpretation Action Cue
Very elevated 0.80 ∞ Much higher endorsement than the community mean. Use guardrails; consider professional input if patterns strain relationships.
Elevated 0.40 0.80 Noticeably higher endorsement. Watch for context where tendencies help or hinder.
Typical −0.40 0.40 Near the community mean. Focus on situational patterns and strengths.
Lower than typical −∞ −0.40 Lower endorsement than the community mean. Confirm that responses reflect steady conditions.
Field Type Min Max Step/Pattern Error Behavior
Responses Integer choices 1 5 Radio options Only defined choices are selectable
Items Count 27 27 — All must be answered to show results
Reverse scoring indices Indices — — Narc 11, 15, 17; Psych 20, 25 Applied as 6 − v
URL parameter r String 27 27 ^[1-5\-]{27}$ Invalid strings are ignored
Input Accepted Families Output Encoding/Precision Rounding
Responses 1 to 5 Likert choices Trait means and bands Two decimals; period decimal separator Standard rounding to two decimals
Answers export Clipboard, file CSV or DOCX (answers table) Title and subtitle with trait scores As displayed
State sharing URL parameter r Encoded 27‑character string Digits 1–5 or - for unanswered Direct mapping
  • Units, precision, rounding: Means are reported on a 1 to 5 scale and displayed to two decimals using standard rounding.
  • Networking & storage: Processing occurs in the browser; responses are not sent to a server. The encoded r value in the address bar can persist or share state only if you choose to share it.
  • Performance: Linear time over 27 items; rendering uses a lightweight chart.
  • Diagnostics & determinism: Identical inputs produce identical scores and bands.
  • Privacy & compliance: No data is transmitted or stored server‑side. Results do not constitute a clinical diagnosis.

Assumptions & limitations

  • Self‑reported answers can change with context and framing.
  • Community means are fixed constants and may not match your population.
  • Bands rely on simple difference thresholds, not percentiles.
  • Balance is based on score spread, not variance or reliability.
  • Interpretation does not adjust for age, culture, or occupation.
  • Item wording brevity favors speed over nuance.
  • Reverse scoring assumes accurate recognition of reversed items in code.
  • Heads‑up Sharing your link may reveal responses via the r parameter.

Edge cases & error sources

  • Incomplete responses prevent results from appearing.
  • Invalid r strings are ignored and do not restore answers.
  • Using values outside 1 to 5 breaks assumptions and is rejected by the interface.
  • Rounding near band thresholds can flip labels when values shift slightly.
  • Very uniform answers may yield a “well balanced” label despite high levels.
  • Highly uneven answers may yield “strongly tilted” with modest absolute levels.
  • Copy to clipboard can be blocked by browser permission settings.
  • File export remains disabled until all items are answered.
  • Disabling script execution prevents charts from rendering.
  • Manually editing the address bar can desynchronize state if the pattern is broken.

Step‑by‑Step Guide:

The SD3 screen measures your average endorsement of three traits and shows where you sit relative to community means.

  1. Start and answer all 27 items based on typical behavior.
  2. Select one choice per item on a 1 to 5 scale.
  3. Review your three trait means, bands, and balance note.
  4. Scan the highlights, drivers, and suggested next steps.
  5. Copy or download your answers table if you wish to keep a record.
  6. Optionally share or bookmark the link; it includes an encoded r state string.
Example: If Psychopathy reads 2.9 with a community mean of 2.4, your Δ is +0.5 and the band is elevated.

Finish by choosing one small guardrail or strength to practice over the next week.

FAQ:

Is my data stored?

No. Responses are processed in the browser and not sent to a server. The address may include an r code only if you choose to share or bookmark.

How accurate is this screen?

It summarizes how you answered today using trait means and fixed thresholds. It supports reflection but is not a clinical evaluation.

What units and rounding are used?

Means are on a 1 to 5 scale and displayed to two decimals using standard rounding. The chart shows the same scale.

Which items are reverse‑scored?

Narcissism items 11, 15, and 17; Psychopathy items 20 and 25. Reverse scoring uses 6 minus the chosen value.

What does “typical” mean?

Your trait mean is within ±0.40 of the community mean used here. Near the edges, small rounding changes can shift the label.

How do I save or share my state?

The address bar can carry an encoded r string representing your answers. Copy or bookmark it if you want to restore later.

Can I use it offline?

Once loaded, scoring runs locally. No connection is needed to compute or view results.

Is there any cost or license?

There is no charge stated here. Exports are optional and generated locally.

Troubleshooting:

  • No results? Ensure all 27 items are answered.
  • No chart? Check that scripting is allowed in your browser.
  • Clipboard copy failed? Use Download CSV instead.
  • DOCX button disabled? It activates after all items are complete.
  • Link did not restore answers? Confirm the r code is exactly 27 characters.
  • Unexpected band? Check values near ±0.40 and rounding to two decimals.

Advanced Tips:

  • Repeat the screen at the same time of day to improve comparability.
  • Bookmark the link with your r code to revisit your answers.
  • Focus on the drivers list to spot phrases that consistently pull scores upward.
  • Use the strengths list to name behaviors worth amplifying.
  • Track your balance label over time to see if one trait steadily dominates.
  • When sharing, remove the r parameter if you prefer not to reveal responses.

Glossary:

SD3
Short Dark Triad. A 27‑item screen for three traits.
Machiavellianism
Strategic, outcome‑focused orientation measured by nine items.
Psychopathy
Fast‑acting, risk‑tolerant orientation measured by nine items.
Narcissism
Status and recognition orientation measured by nine items.
Reverse scoring
Transforming a response with 6 minus value to align direction.
Community mean
Reference average used to band results for each trait.
Balance
Spread between highest and lowest trait means.
Δ (Delta)
Difference between your score and the community mean.