Home
Psychological tests
Autoaggression and Heteroaggression

Autoaggression and Heteroaggression Test

Understand whether anger turns inward or outward in about 4 minutes. This 20 item check gives a quick read on direction and intensity to guide counseling, screening, and emotion regulation.

Start Online Test

Questions: 204 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

25,859 views

2,566 completions

2,272 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

7/10

Heteroaggression (H)

Heteroaggression reflects the tendency to direct aggressive reactions outward toward other people or external objects.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 7 falls in the High range, suggesting a relatively pronounced outward expression of irritation or aggression and a greater likelihood of impulsive reactions in interactions.

example score

5/10

Autoaggression (A)

Measures the tendency to direct aggressive impulses inward as self-criticism, self-blame, or self-punitive behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 5 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a balanced but noticeable tendency toward self-directed irritation or self-criticism that may surface in stressful situations.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

People in frequent conflicts

41%OF USERS

They take it to understand whether their anger tends to spill onto others or turn inward after arguments at work, home, or school.

Those with self-blame spirals

34%OF USERS

They use it to check if irritation is being redirected into harsh self-criticism, guilt, or self-punishing thoughts.

Counseling and HR screenings

25%OF USERS

Practitioners use it for quick emotional screening to guide conversations about impulse control, boundaries, and coping strategies.

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.

AI-Powered
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.

Practical
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.

AI-Powered
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.

Discuss with
an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

Start Online Test

Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

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.

Heteroaggression (H)

Average

Normal range

1.6 — 4.5

min.

max.

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.

Self-aggression (S)

Average

4.1

Normal range

2.5 — 5.8

min.

max.

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.

Start Online Test

Featured On

CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this test measure?

It screens how aggression is typically directed, either toward the self or toward other people. It also indicates the relative intensity of these tendencies.

How long does it take to complete and how many items are included?

Completion typically takes about 4 minutes. The form contains 20 items.

What is the response format?

Items describe reactions or situations related to aggressive behavior. Select the option that best matches the usual response.

How should the results be interpreted?

Higher inward-directed scores may suggest internal conflict, self-directed anger, or self-punitive tendencies. Higher outward-directed scores may suggest elevated conflict risk and weaker control of aggressive reactions.

Is the result a diagnosis?

No, the result is a screening indicator and should be interpreted in context. Clinical conclusions require additional assessment and professional judgment.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Autoaggression and Heteroaggression Test - Symptoms and Signs

aggressiveness auto-aggression

This measure assesses the direction of aggressive tendencies-whether they are primarily self-directed or directed toward others. Autoaggression and Heteroaggression is intended as a brief screening tool to characterize the predominant orientation of aggressive affect and behavior in clinical or counseling contexts.

The instrument includes 20 items and typically takes about 4 minutes to complete. Respondent selections are used to summarize relative elevations in self-directed versus other-directed aggression, which may help guide follow-up clinical interviewing, risk consideration, and treatment planning. Authors are listed as Arnold H. Buss and Leonard Berkowitz.

Interpretation should be integrated with presenting concerns, observed behavior, and relevant history. Autoaggression and Heteroaggression does not establish diagnosis on its own and is best used as one component of a broader, multimethod assessment process.

Author: Arnold H. Buss, Leonard Berkowitz

Literature: Buss, A. H., & Perry, M. The aggression questionnaire. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1992.

Test Question Form