Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) Test

Understand key dark personality traits in just 6 minutes. With 28 items, it delivers fast, research-ready insight for risk screening and interpersonal dynamics.

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Questions: 286 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

19603 views

2221 completion

1742 likes

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

2/5

Sadism (S)

This scale measures the tendency to derive enjoyment or a sense of power from causing others discomfort, humiliation, or pain.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 1.58: Low | 1.59 – 3.02: Moderate | 3.03 – 5: High

A score of 2 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting occasional endorsement of sadistic attitudes or behaviors without them being a dominant interpersonal style.

example score

3/5

Psychopathy (P)

This scale measures tendencies toward callousness, low empathy and guilt, impulsivity, and deceptive or aggressive interpersonal behavior.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 1.77: Low | 1.78 – 2.99: Moderate | 3 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the High range, suggesting relatively stronger psychopathy-related tendencies such as emotional detachment and impulsive or manipulative behavior compared with typical levels.

example score

3/5

Narcissism (N)

Measures the degree of non-clinical narcissistic tendencies such as grandiosity, superiority, and using others to support one’s self-image.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.48: Low | 2.49 – 3.68: Moderate | 3.69 – 5: High

A score of 3 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a balanced presence of self-focus and need for recognition that may show up in some situations without dominating interpersonal behavior.

example score

3/5

Machiavellianism (M)

Measures the tendency to use strategic manipulation, emotional detachment, and cynical views of others to achieve personal goals.

Low

Moderate

High

1 – 2.58: Low | 2.59 – 3.68: Moderate | 3.69 – 5: High

A score of 3 indicates a moderate level of Machiavellianism, suggesting occasional pragmatic or guarded interpersonal strategies without a consistently manipulative style.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Psychology students and researchers

41%OF USERS

They use it to quickly measure dark personality traits for coursework, studies, and comparing groups.

Therapists and clinicians

33%OF USERS

They take or administer it to support case formulation, risk awareness, and understanding difficult interpersonal patterns.

Curious self-explorers

26%OF USERS

They want an honest snapshot of manipulativeness, entitlement, impulsivity, or enjoyment of others’ discomfort to better understand their behavior.

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

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

What You’ll See After You Finish the Test

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale, translated into plain, usable insights. Not just numbers, but what they actually mean for your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

A structured, clinically grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation — without alarmist language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how you compare to others. Your scores are placed in a statistical context, showing percentiles and trends based on anonymized platform data to help you understand what`s typical.

Practical
Recommendations

Actionable guidance tailored to your profile. Receive clear, realistic suggestions you can apply immediately — focused on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Detected
Insights

Key patterns you might not notice on your own. Surfacing subtle connections in your responses that help you better understand what may be driving your current results.

Discuss with
an AI Psychologist

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

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you finish the test, your results will be compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of the benchmarks we use to place your score in context.

Sadism (S)

Average

3.6

Normal range

3 — 4.1

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Psychopathy (P)

Average

3.3

Normal range

2.6 — 3.9

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Narcissism (N)

Average

2.2

Normal range

1.7 — 2.8

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

Machiavellianism (M)

Average

3.9

Normal range

3.2 — 4.7

min.

max.

majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear here so you can see where you land.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Any questions left?

What does this questionnaire measure?

It measures four related personality traits: Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and sadism. Scores indicate the relative strength of each trait based on self-report responses.

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

Completion time is typically about 6 minutes. The questionnaire includes 28 statements.

How should responses be selected?

Each statement should be rated based on typical thoughts and behavior rather than a single recent event. Responses should reflect the first, most accurate impression.

How are results interpreted?

Results are reported as separate scores for each trait, which may be compared within a profile. Higher scores suggest stronger tendencies associated with that trait but do not provide a diagnosis.

Is the questionnaire validated for Russian-speaking samples?

A Russian adaptation was developed and validated by a research team led by D. S. Kornienko in 2022. This supports interpretation in Russian-speaking contexts while keeping the same four-trait structure.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Short Dark Triad Questionnaire, SD4 Test

Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) Test

manipulations narcissism psychopathy sadism dark triad

This brief self-report measure assesses socially aversive personality characteristics relevant to interpersonal functioning. The Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) provides a compact profile across four constructs commonly described as the dark tetrad.

Across 28 items completed in about 6 minutes, respondents rate statements intended to index Machiavellianism, narcissism, psychopathy, and everyday sadism. The instrument is commonly used in research and applied psychological settings to support trait-level screening and to inform hypotheses about interpersonal behavior; it is not a diagnostic tool and should be interpreted in context.

The Short Dark Tetrad (SD4) was developed by Daniel N. Jones and is typically administered with standard self-report response options and summed or averaged subscale scores.

Author: Daniel N. Jones, delroy-l-paulhus

Literature: Jones, D. N., & Paulhus, D. L. Introducing the Short Dark Triad (SD3): A brief measure of dark personality traits. Assessment. 2014.; Paulhus, D. L., Buckels, E. E., Trapnell, P. D., & Jones, D. N. Screening for dark personalities: The Short Dark Tetrad (SD4). European Journal of Psychological Assessment. 2020.

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