Moral Disengagement Scale (MD-24) Test
Understand how people mentally disconnect from their moral standards in just 5 minutes. Get clear results across 24 items to pinpoint key disengagement patterns and support coaching, clinical, or selection decisions.
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08:30
Scale Explorer
How the Scales are Structured
DATA-BASED USER COHORTS
Who Usually Takes This Test?
BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.
RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE
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.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.
Scale of Moral Responsibility Alienation (SoMRA)
Average
4.3
Normal range
3.1 — 5.4
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Dehumanization (D)
Average
4.3
Normal range
3.5 — 5.2
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Attribution of blame (Aob)
Average
4.2
Normal range
3.4 — 5
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Distortion of Consequences (DoC)
Average
3.9
Normal range
2.8 — 4.9
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Diffusion of Responsibility (DoR)
Average
2.7
Normal range
1.7 — 3.7
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Shifting Responsibility (SR)
Average
2.8
Normal range
2 — 3.6
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Advantageous Comparison (AC)
Average
4.5
Normal range
3.4 — 5.6
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Euphemistic label (El)
Average
3.6
Normal range
2.6 — 4.5
min.
1
max.
7
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.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.
Moral justification (Mj)
Average
4.9
Normal range
4 — 5.8
min.
1
max.
7
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.
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 measure?
It measures common ways people reduce or suspend moral self-regulation when evaluating harmful or unethical actions. It captures eight cognitive mechanisms used to justify behavior and limit feelings of guilt.
How long does it take and how many items are included?
The questionnaire includes 24 statements and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. A shorter 8-item version may be used for brief screening.
How should the items be answered?
Each statement should be rated based on typical beliefs and reactions, not on an ideal response. Responses should reflect general patterns rather than a single unusual event.
How are results reported?
Results are summarized as an overall score and as scores for each of the eight mechanisms. Higher scores indicate more frequent use of these justification and distancing strategies.
How should the results be used and interpreted?
Results support assessment and research by identifying specific moral disengagement patterns that may relate to risk for unethical behavior. They do not diagnose a disorder and should be interpreted with other clinical or contextual information.
WHAT THE TEST MEASURES
About This Assessment
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Moral Disengagement Scale (MD-24) Test - Symptoms and Signs
This measure assesses cognitive mechanisms that allow individuals to justify or minimize the personal significance of behavior that conflicts with internal moral standards. The Moral Disengagement Scale (MD-24) is typically used to characterize patterns of moral self-regulation relevant to ethically questionable, aggressive, or harmful conduct.
It consists of 24 items and is usually completed in about 5 minutes. Respondents rate agreement with statements reflecting common disengagement processes (e.g., moral justification, displacement or diffusion of responsibility, minimizing consequences, and devaluing or blaming victims), supporting interpretation of relative tendencies across mechanisms.
In clinical, forensic, organizational, and research settings, the Moral Disengagement Scale (MD-24) may inform case formulation or risk-related hypotheses by identifying how a person may cognitively distance actions from moral principles. Results should be integrated with collateral information and other assessment data rather than used as a standalone indicator of behavior or intent.
Author: albert-bandura
Literature: Bandura, A., Barbaranelli, C., Caprara, G. V., & Pastorelli, C. Mechanisms of moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1996.
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