Transgressive Motivation Test

Understand how you respond to hurt in relationships in just 3 minutes, from holding a grudge to forgiving. A quick 12 question check-in that supports counseling, coaching, and conflict repair.

Start Online Test

Questions: 123 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

17,066 views

1,819 completions

1,584 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

12/25

Vindictiveness (V)

Measures how strongly a person tends to seek revenge or hold grudges after being hurt in a relationship.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 11: Low | 12 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 25: High

A score of 12 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting some vengeful thoughts may arise after being hurt, but they are not strongly dominant.

example score

25/35

Desire to Avoid the Offender (DtAtO)

Measures the tendency to distance oneself from a person who caused hurt and to minimize further contact after a conflict.

Low avoidance

Moderate avoidance

High avoidance

7 – 17: Low avoidance | 18 – 22: Moderate avoidance | 23 – 35: High avoidance

A score of 25 falls in the High avoidance range, suggesting a pronounced inclination to keep distance from the offender and limit interaction after being hurt.

Start Online Test

just completed the test

DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Hurt in close relationships

41%OF USERS

People dealing with a recent conflict with a partner, friend, or family member who want to understand whether they lean toward distancing, forgiveness, or revenge.

Therapy and counseling clients

34%OF USERS

Clients using the test with a psychologist or counselor to clarify their conflict coping style and guide emotional regulation or reconciliation work.

Workplace conflict managers

25%OF USERS

Managers, HR specialists, or mediators who want a quick snapshot of how team members handle grievances to support healthier resolution 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.

Vindictiveness (V)

Average

17.6

Normal range

15 — 20.1

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.

Avoidance of the Offender (AotO)

Average

15.3

Normal range

10.7 — 20

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 questionnaire measure?

It measures motivational responses after an interpersonal hurt, with emphasis on avoidance of the offender and vindictiveness. Higher scores indicate stronger tendencies to distance or seek revenge.

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

Completion typically takes about 3 minutes. The questionnaire contains 12 items.

What should be used as the reference situation when answering?

Use a specific incident in which another person caused emotional pain. If no single incident stands out, use the most recent conflict that still feels relevant.

How should items be answered if feelings are mixed or change over time?

Select responses that best match the current typical reaction to that incident. If unsure between options, choose the one that is closer overall.

How are results interpreted and how do they relate to a forgiveness version of the questionnaire?

Results summarize levels of avoidance and vindictiveness, which reflect barriers to reconciliation and ongoing grievance focus. In the forgiveness version, the same content is scored in the opposite direction and labeled as maintaining contact and forgetfulness.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Transgressive Motivation Test - Symptoms and Signs

advantages positive psychology forgiveness guilt

This brief self-report measure is used to characterize dispositional responses following interpersonal offense. The Transgressive Motivation Test assesses patterns of motivation that may shape conflict behavior in close or work relationships.

It consists of 12 items and typically takes about 3 minutes to complete. Items are designed to capture two core tendencies: avoidance of the offender and revenge-related motivation, supporting a focused clinical discussion of forgiveness-related processes and ongoing interpersonal strain.

Scores from the Transgressive Motivation Test can be used as adjunctive information in counseling, psychotherapy, or research to inform case formulation around reconciliation, boundary-setting, and emotion regulation after hurtful interactions. Results should be interpreted in context with clinical interview data and relevant measures rather than as a standalone indicator.

Author: marvin-zuckerman

Literature: Seligman, M. E. P. Authentic happiness: Using the new positive psychology to realize your potential for lasting fulfillment. Free Press. 2002.; Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Lucas, R. E. Subjective well-being: The science of happiness and life satisfaction. In C. R. Snyder & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology. Oxford University Press. 2002.; McCullough, M. E., Rachal, K. C., Sandage, S. J., Worthington, E. L., Brown, S. W., & Hight, T. L. Interpersonal forgiving in close relationships: II. Theoretical elaboration and measurement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 1998.

Test Question Form

This self-report measure is used to assess narcissism as a personality trai…