Need for Dominance Scale Test

Understand how strongly someone tends to lead, influence, and take responsibility in groups in about 4 minutes. This 20 item assessment is fast, validated, and useful for coaching, team fit, and development.

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Questions: 204 minutes

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08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

21014 views

2037 completions

1719 likes

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How the Scales are Structured

example score

10/20

Need for Dominance (NfD)

This scale measures the degree to which a person is motivated to take leadership, influence others, and organize group actions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 6: Low | 7 – 13: Moderate | 14 – 20: High

A score of 10 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a balanced tendency to take initiative and influence in groups without a strong drive to dominate.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

Aspiring team leaders

41%OF USERS

People aiming for leadership roles take it to see whether they naturally take initiative, influence others, and assume responsibility in groups.

HR and recruiters

34%OF USERS

Hiring and people-ops specialists use it to gauge a candidate’s orientation toward leading and organizing without confusing it with manipulation.

Coaches and psychologists

25%OF USERS

Practitioners include it in counseling or training to discuss a client’s leadership motivation and how it shows up in teamwork.

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.

The Need for Dominance (TNfD)

Average

13.5

Normal range

11 — 16

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 motivation to take initiative, influence group decisions, and assume leadership roles. It reflects a preference for organizing and guiding others rather than remaining in a passive role.

What does it not measure?

It does not assess aggression, coercion, manipulation, or a desire to dominate through suppression. It focuses on leadership motivation and influence in cooperative settings.

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

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

How should responses be given?

Choose the response option that best matches typical behavior and preferences. Answer all items and avoid overthinking individual statements.

How should results be interpreted and used?

Higher scores indicate stronger orientation toward leading, persuading, and taking responsibility in groups, while lower scores indicate less interest in leadership roles. Results should be interpreted alongside other relevant measures and the assessment context.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Need for Dominance Scale Test

aesthetics

This self-report measure is designed to assess individual differences in motivation to influence, lead, and take initiative in interpersonal or group settings. The Need for Dominance Scale provides a brief, structured way to quantify dominance-related preferences in everyday social behavior.

Developed by David M. Buss and Jerry M. Burger, it consists of 20 items and typically requires about 4 minutes to complete. The Need for Dominance Scale is generally used in research and applied assessment contexts where understanding interpersonal style, leadership motivation, and preference for directing others may inform case formulation or group dynamics.

Author: David M. Buss, Jerry M. Burger

Literature: McClelland, D. C. Human motivation. Cambridge University Press. 1987.; Winter, D. G. The power motive. Free Press. 1973.; Paulhus, D. L., & John, O. P. Egoistic and moralistic biases in self-perception: The interplay of self-deceptive styles with basic traits and motives. Journal of Personality. 1998.

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