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Group Psychological Abuse Scale3

Group Psychological Abuse Scale Test

Understand whether a group uses psychological pressure or coercion in about 6 minutes. Get a clear snapshot that separates supportive communities from manipulative ones to guide next steps.

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Questions: 286 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

17,927 views

1,524 completions

1,298 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

20/35

Anxious Dependence (AD)

Measures anxious attachment to a group that can arise from psychological pressure and manipulative influence.

Low

High

7 – 20: Low | 21 – 35: High

A score of 20 falls in the Low range, suggesting minimal signs of anxious dependence on the group in the responses.

example score

31/35

Mind Control (MC)

Measures the extent to which a group interferes with a person’s thinking, beliefs, and perception of reality through thought-shaping influence.

Low influence

High influence

7 – 20: Low influence | 21 – 35: High influence

A score of 31 falls in the High influence range, suggesting substantial group interference aimed at reshaping thought processes and perceptions.

example score

21/35

Exploitation (E)

Measures the extent to which a person is used for the group’s benefit while their own needs and preferences are disregarded.

Low exploitation

Elevated exploitation

7 – 20: Low exploitation | 21 – 35: Elevated exploitation

A score of 21 falls in the Elevated exploitation range, suggesting noticeable signs that the group may prioritize its goals over the individual’s needs.

example score

23/35

Coerced Compliance (CC)

Measures how much pressure is applied to obtain a person’s agreement with group norms and demands.

Low pressure

Elevated pressure

7 – 20: Low pressure | 21 – 35: Elevated pressure

A score of 23 falls in the Elevated pressure range, suggesting notable use of tactics aimed at securing compliance with group expectations.

example score

123/140

Total Score (TS)

This scale measures the overall level of psychological abuse and coercive influence experienced within a group.

No abuse indicated

Abuse indicated

28 – 83: No abuse indicated | 84 – 140: Abuse indicated

A score of 123 falls in the “Abuse indicated” range, suggesting a high overall level of manipulative and controlling group influence in the reported experience.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Therapists and counselors

41%OF USERS

They use it to screen clients’ group experiences for coercion or manipulation and inform a support plan.

Researchers and clinicians

34%OF USERS

They administer it in studies or assessments to quantify psychological pressure tactics within different kinds of groups.

Former group members

25%OF USERS

They take it to make sense of whether their past community used harmful influence and to validate their concerns.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

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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.

Anxious Dependency (AD)

Average

22.3

Normal range

18.7 — 25.9

min.

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Consciousness Control (CC)

Average

16.5

Normal range

11.5 — 21.5

min.

max.

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Operation (O)

Average

25.1

Normal range

20.2 — 30

min.

max.

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Forced consent (Fc)

Average

14.5

Normal range

9.3 — 19.7

min.

max.

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Final score (Fs)

Average

61.5

Normal range

42.4 — 80.6

min.

max.

140

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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SAMPLE QUESTIONS

Example Questions From the Test

Please rate as accurately as possible the extent to which the following statements characterize the group being evaluated. Rate each item based on your experience and observations (retrospectively) of how the group actually functioned. If the group had different membership levels (in which the group’s predominant characteristics differed), please base your ratings on the level with which you are most familiar. Consider each response carefully in order to provide the most appropriate rating.

- Not at all characteristic
- Not characteristic
- Cannot say / not sure
- Characteristic
- Very characteristic
- Not at all characteristic
- Not characteristic
- Unable to say / not sure
- Characteristic
- Very characteristic
- Not at all characteristic
- Not characteristic
- Cannot say / not sure
- Characteristic
- Very characteristic

These are 3 of the 28 real questions — the rest appear in the test. No sign-up needed to start.

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WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Scale of Group Psychological Violence Test

Group Psychological Abuse Scale Test - Symptoms and Signs

abuse

group identity

religiosity

This measure is designed to support rapid screening of potentially coercive or manipulative group experiences. The Group Psychological Abuse Scale assesses perceived exposure to psychologically abusive group practices that may erode emotional well-being and independent thinking.

The instrument consists of 28 items and typically takes about 6 minutes to complete. Items ask respondents to indicate the extent to which specific group dynamics (e.g., pressure, control, or intimidation) were present, supporting clinical interviewing, case conceptualization, or research use where group influence is a concern.

The Group Psychological Abuse Scale is intended to help differentiate supportive group environments from those characterized by sustained psychological pressure. Results should be interpreted in clinical context and integrated with collateral information and other assessment data rather than used as a stand-alone diagnostic indicator.

Author: Albert Bandura

Literature: Hare, R. D. Manual for the Revised Psychopathy Checklist. Multi-Health Systems. 2003.; Chambers, W. V., Langone, M. D., & Malinoski, P. The group psychological abuse scale. Presented to Division 36 (Psychology of Religion), American Psychological Association Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada. 1996.