Clinician or parent? Hand your device over with the score hidden, or send the test to their phone.
26 questions · about 5–8 minutes
For each one, pick the answer that fits you best. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is saved or sent unless you choose to email the results. This assessment measures subclinical psychopathic personality traits in the general population. It does NOT diagnose Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) or psychopathy. Only a licensed mental health professional can make a clinical diagnosis. If you have concerns about your behavior or relationships, please seek professional guidance.
- Questions
- 26
- Time
- 5–8 min
- Looks back over
- No set period
- Score range
- 26–104
- Cost
- Free
What the Sociopathic Traits measures
- Primary psychopathy: Callousness, manipulation, egocentricity, superficial charm, lack of empathy and remorse
- Secondary psychopathy: Impulsivity, poor behavioral controls, antisocial lifestyle, irresponsibility, lack of long-term goals
About the Sociopathic Traits
The LSRP was developed by Michael R. Levenson, Kent A. Kiehl, and Cory M. Fitzpatrick (1995) to measure psychopathic personality traits in community and non-forensic populations. Unlike instruments designed for forensic settings (like the PCL-R), the LSRP is appropriate for self-report use in the general population.
The scale distinguishes between two factors of psychopathy that have different theoretical underpinnings. Primary psychopathy reflects a callous, manipulative interpersonal style thought to have a stronger biological basis. Secondary psychopathy reflects an impulsive, antisocial lifestyle more closely linked to environmental influences and emotional dysregulation.
It is crucial to understand that psychopathic traits exist on a continuum in the general population. Having some of these traits does not mean you have Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) or are a "sociopath." Many people with elevated scores lead normal, productive lives. Clinical diagnosis requires comprehensive professional evaluation and evidence of persistent patterns causing significant impairment.
How the Sociopathic Traits is scored
- Every question offers the same answers, but some are reverse-scored: the same answer adds a point on one question and nothing on another, so it is the pattern of answers that counts, not how far along the scale each one sits.
- The answers are added together for a total from 26 to 104.
Sociopathic Traits score ranges
The ranges this quiz uses to label a score. They describe where a score falls, not a diagnosis.
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Low Psychopathic Traits | 26–45 |
| Average Range | 46–60 |
| Above Average Traits | 61–78 |
| High Psychopathic Traits | 79–104 |
How to read the results
- It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. A label only says where a score falls compared with the people the questionnaire was tested on. A word like "mild" does not mean a mild disorder.
- Look at the answers, not only the total. Which questions scored highest often says more about what to work on than the number does.
- Compare with yourself over time. Taking it again in a few weeks, or after starting therapy, shows whether things are moving. Compare each score with your own earlier one, not with someone else's.
- Talk it through. A clinician will ask what no questionnaire can: how long it has been like this, what else is going on, and how much it gets in the way.
The Sociopathic Traits compared with similar tests
| Test | Screens for | Questions | Looks back over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narcissism Test | Narcissistic personality traits | 16 | No set period |
| Sociopathic Traits (this page) | Psychopathic traits, self-reported | 26 | No set period |
| PCL-22 | Psychopathic traits, checklist | 22 | No set period |
| Myers-Briggs Style | Personality preferences (informal) | 20 | No set period |
Using the Sociopathic Traits with clients
- Baseline, then repeat. Give it at intake, then at regular intervals, and compare each score with the client's own earlier ones to see whether treatment is working.
- Hand to client. Give it on your own device in session. The questions fill the screen with nothing else on it, and the scores stay hidden until you take the device back and press Show results.
- Send to someone. Send a link before the session by text or email. Tick "Ask for a copy of their results" and their results page offers to email you their score. They decide whether to send it. Your address travels in the link itself and never reaches our servers.
- Copy summary and Print. The results screen copies a one-line summary for the session note, or prints the results on their own.
- Nothing is stored. Answers stay in the browser. Results leave it only when someone chooses to email them, and that email is not kept.
Diagnosis codes often documented for this concern
For reference only. A screening score is not a diagnosis, and none of these follows from a score on its own.
Where to go from here
- Individual Counseling at Crown Counseling · in Brooklyn and online across New York
- Free resources for therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a high score mean I'm a sociopath or psychopath?+
No. The LSRP measures personality traits that exist on a continuum in the general population. A high score does not equal a diagnosis of ASPD or psychopathy. Many people with elevated scores function well in society. Only a comprehensive clinical evaluation can determine if personality patterns are clinically significant.
What is the difference between a sociopath and a psychopath?+
These are popular terms, not formal clinical diagnoses. The DSM-5 diagnosis is Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). In research, 'psychopathy' refers to a specific constellation of personality traits (callousness, manipulation, lack of empathy) that partially overlaps with ASPD but is not identical. The LSRP measures these personality traits dimensionally.
What are primary and secondary psychopathy?+
Primary psychopathy (items 1-16) reflects a callous, manipulative interpersonal style with reduced empathy. Secondary psychopathy (items 17-26) reflects impulsivity, poor behavioral controls, and an antisocial lifestyle. Someone can score high on one dimension but not the other.
Can psychopathic traits be changed?+
Research suggests that while core personality traits are relatively stable, their expression and impact on functioning can be modified through therapy. Schema therapy, mentalization-based therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy have shown promise for personality-related difficulties.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Levenson MR, Kiehl KA, Fitzpatrick CM. Assessing psychopathic attributes in a noninstitutionalized population. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1995;68(1):151-158.
- Sellbom M. Elaborating on the construct validity of the Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scale. J Pers Assess. 2011;93(6):573-582.
- Brinkley CA, Schmitt WA, Smith SS, Newman JP. Construct validation of a self-report psychopathy scale. Assessment. 2001;8(1):111-127.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). 2013.