Workplace Aggression Scale (WPAS) Test

Understand how aggression shows up at work in just 7 minutes. With 35 items, it pinpoints covert, passive, and overt patterns to guide targeted HR and coaching action.
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Questions357 minutes
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08:30
October 2, 2025
October 2, 2025
Material has been updated
27,018 views
2,746 completions
2,322 likes
Verified by Daniel Hall
Psychologist with 25 years of experience
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How the Scales are Structured

example score
3/5
Overt Aggression (OA)
Measures the tendency toward direct, overt aggressive actions in workplace relationships, including threats, intimidation, or property-related harm.
Low
Moderate
High
12.4Low2.53.6Moderate3.75High
A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional or situational signs of overt aggression rather than a consistently high pattern.
example score
3/5
Obstructionism (O)
Measures the tendency to impede others’ work through passive resistance or covert obstructive behaviors in the workplace.
Low
Moderate
High
12.3Low2.43.6Moderate3.75High
A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional obstructive behaviors such as delaying responses, withholding help, or slowing work when under tension.
example score
2/5
Hostility Expression (HE)
Measures the tendency to display covert or subtle hostility toward colleagues through negative attitudes and verbal or symbolic cues.
Low
Moderate
High
12.3Low2.43.6Moderate3.75High
A score of 2 indicates low expression of hostility, suggesting minimal or infrequent hostile verbal or symbolic behaviors in workplace interactions.
example score
3/5
Workplace Aggression Index (WAI)
Measures how often an employee displays aggressive behaviors in workplace relationships across hidden hostility, obstructionism, and overt confrontation.
Low
Moderate
High
12.3Low2.43.6Moderate3.75High
A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional aggressive tendencies that may surface under tension or conflict at work.
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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

HR and People Ops
41%OF USERS
They use it to spot patterns of hostility, passive resistance, or open conflict in teams and plan targeted interventions.
Team Leaders and Managers
34%OF USERS
They take it to understand what kind of aggression is disrupting collaboration and how to reduce tension in day-to-day work.
Workplace Psychologists and Coaches
25%OF USERS
They apply it in assessments, trainings, or mediation to clarify the structure of conflict and track change over time.
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly
Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.
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Interpretation
You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.
Statistical
Comparison
See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.
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Recommendations
You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.
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Insights
Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.
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Used in 52+ countries
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See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Open aggression (Oa)
Average
2.7
Normal range
2.13.2
min.
1
max.
5
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Obstructionism (O)
Average
3.4
Normal range
2.74.1
min.
1
max.
5
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Expression of hostility (Eoh)
Average
2.6
Normal range
2.13.1
min.
1
max.
5
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Workplace Aggression Index (WAI)
Average
3.4
Normal range
2.84
min.
1
max.
5
Majority
This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire assess?
It assesses how workplace conflict may be expressed through hostility, obstructionism, and overt aggression. It helps describe the pattern and intensity of these behaviors within work relationships.
How is aggressive behavior grouped in the results?
Scores are reported for three areas: expression of hostility, obstructionism, and overt aggression. Higher scores indicate a greater tendency toward that form of behavior.
How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?
Completion typically takes about 7 minutes. The questionnaire contains 35 statements.
How should responses be selected?
Each statement should be rated based on what is typical, not what seems acceptable or expected. Responses should reflect behavior and attitudes in workplace interactions.
How should the results be used and interpreted?
Results support screening and planning for conflict prevention, team development, and targeted intervention. Interpretation should be made alongside other information and is not a clinical diagnosis.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment

Workplace Aggression Scale (WPAS) Test - Symptoms and Signs

This measure is designed to assess patterns of aggressive behavior and interpersonal tension in workplace settings. The Workplace Aggression Scale (WPAS) is a brief self-report inventory intended to help characterize how aggression may be expressed at work.

The instrument includes 35 items and typically requires about 7 minutes to complete. Item content generally reflects multiple forms of workplace aggression, including covert hostility, obstructive or passive-aggressive behaviors, and more overt acts of aggression.

The Workplace Aggression Scale (WPAS) may be used in organizational, consultation, or clinical contexts to support screening and case formulation related to workplace conflict. Mark Perry is listed as the author.

Author: arnold-h-buss, Mark Perry
Literature: Neuman, J. H., & Baron, R. A. Workplace violence and workplace aggression: Evidence concerning specific forms, potential causes, and preferred targets. Journal of Management. 1998.; Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1992.
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