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Cyber-Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ)3

Cyber-Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ) Test

Understand a teen’s cyberaggression style and self-control in about 5 minutes. Fast 23-item screen that guides targeted support, counseling, and prevention planning.

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Questions: 235 minutes

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

28,427 views

3,574 completions

2,936 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

48/92

Cyberaggression Expression Index (CEI)

Measures the respondent’s overall tendency to display aggressive behavior in online interactions (higher scores indicate lower cyberaggression).

Higher cyberaggression

Moderate cyberaggression

Lower cyberaggression

23 – 45: Higher cyberaggression | 46 – 69: Moderate cyberaggression | 70 – 92: Lower cyberaggression

A score of 48 falls in the Moderate cyberaggression range, suggesting a mid-level overall tendency toward online aggressive behavior with neither consistently high nor consistently low expression.

example score

21/24

Impulsive Reactive (IR)

Measures how strongly a person tends to respond with spontaneous, emotionally driven retaliatory aggression to online provocation.

Low

Moderate

High

6 – 9: Low | 10 – 9.5: Moderate | 9.6 – 24: High

A score of 21 falls in the High range, suggesting a pronounced tendency toward quick, emotion-triggered retaliatory cyberaggressive reactions when provoked online.

example score

14/24

Deliberate Retaliatory (DR)

Measures the tendency to engage in controlled, conscious retaliatory cyberaggression in response to negative emotions triggered by others online.

Low

Moderate

6 – 10: Low | 11 – 24: Moderate

A score of 14 falls in the Moderate range, indicating a noticeable tendency toward controlled retaliatory aggressive responses in online interactions.

example score

11/24

Deliberate-Initiated (DI)

Measures the degree of deliberate, proactive cyberaggressive behavior used to pursue desired outcomes (e.g., rewards or status).

Low

Moderate to high

6 – 9: Low | 10 – 24: Moderate to high

A score of 11 falls in the Moderate to high range, suggesting a noticeable tendency toward intentional, proactive cyberaggressive actions aimed at achieving personal goals.

example score

17/20

Impulsive-Initiative (II)

Measures how strongly a person tends to engage in spontaneous, entertainment-driven online aggression without considering longer-term consequences.

Low

Moderate

High

5 – 7: Low | 8 – 15: Moderate | 16 – 20: High

A score of 17 falls in the High range, indicating a pronounced tendency toward sudden, unplanned cyberaggressive acts driven by immediate reaction or amusement.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

School psychologists and counselors

41%OF USERS

Use it to quickly classify a teen’s online aggressive behavior and plan targeted support or prevention.

Teachers and school admins

34%OF USERS

Take it to better understand and respond to cyberbullying incidents and classroom conflict dynamics.

Parents of teenagers

25%OF USERS

Use it to make sense of a child’s online outbursts and decide what kind of emotional and behavioral help is needed.

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

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.

Indicator of Cyberaggression Manifestation (IoCM)

Average

62.4

Normal range

53 — 71.9

min.

max.

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.

impulse-response (i)

Average

18.7

Normal range

15.5 — 22

min.

max.

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.

free-response (f)

Average

17.1

Normal range

14.9 — 19.3

min.

max.

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.

arbitrary-initiative (a)

Average

Normal range

16.3 — 21.6

min.

max.

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.

impulsive-initiative (i)

Average

12.2

Normal range

9.9 — 14.5

min.

max.

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

- Describes me exactly
- Describes me somewhat
- Does not really describe me
- Does not describe me at all
- Describes me exactly
- Describes me somewhat
- Does not describe me much
- Does not describe me at all
- Definitely true of me
- Mostly true of me
- Mostly not true of me
- Definitely not true of me

These are 3 of the 23 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

Cyber-Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ) Test - Symptoms and Signs

aggressiveness

cyberpsychology

This questionnaire is designed to assess patterns of online aggressive behavior and related motivations. The Cyber-Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ) provides a brief, self-report screening approach to characterizing how individuals may engage in cyber-aggression. It is attributed to Craig A. Anderson and Brad J. Bushman.

The measure includes 23 items and typically takes about 5 minutes to complete. Items are intended to differentiate reactive versus proactive expressions of cyber-aggression and to capture whether behavior is more impulsive or more deliberative, which may inform case formulation, prevention planning, and research. The Cyber-Aggression Typology Questionnaire (CATQ) may be used in school, outpatient, or community settings as part of a broader assessment; results should be interpreted alongside clinical interview data, collateral information, and consideration of contextual and developmental factors.

Author: Brad J. Bushman, Craig A. Anderson

Literature: Kowalski, R. M., Giumetti, G. W., Schroeder, A. N., & Lattanner, M. R. Bullying in the digital age: a critical review and meta-analysis of cyberbullying research among youth. Psychological Bulletin. 2014.