
The Sadism Test reveals if you enjoy inflicting pain on others. Are you a cruel person who likes violence? Find out if you are sadistic with 20 simple questions
What Is a Sadism Test?
A Sadism Test also referred to as the VAST test, is a series of personality questions assessing your dark core to expose the lack of empathy in the participants. You’ll score high in a Sadism Test in the event of experiencing pleasure, excitement, or satisfaction from antagonistic behaviors.
It identifies individuals with a tendency to engage in demeaning, cruel behaviors with the purpose of feeling joy or asserting dominance.
Note that it’s not to be confused with the sociopath test because the conditions are different—despite the comorbidity.
How Does It Work?
It works based on the dark triad principle, including narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. You should answer questions that expose how mean you are to others—and how you feel about it.
This Sadism Test Is Based on Theodore Millon’s Work
Dr. Theodore Millon, an American psychologist, known for his work on personality disorders, believed that there are four types of sadisms: Enforcing, Explosive, Spineless, and Tyrannical.
The Sadism Test uses his findings and theories to generate accurate results and reliable analysis.
Find Out if You Are Sadist, Masochist, Sadomasochist, or Psychopath
The comorbidity and overlap between several disorders make it difficult to say if a person is sadistic. You have to roll out other possibilities, such as masochism—a pattern of self-defeating or self-harming behaviors.
To finetune the results, the Sadism Test evaluates you for all the overlapping conditions. So, by the end, you’ll find out if it’s actually a tendency to be violent, a fascination with pain, a passion for being dominant, or maybe even all.
Sadism | Experiencing pleasure from hurting others. |
Masochism | Engaging in self-harm and self-defeat. |
Sadomasochism | Enjoying the infliction of pain on others and oneself. |
Psychopathy | Having no empathy. |
Another example of sadism is intolerance for independence. A sadist would go out of their way to keep others insecure, unconfident, and dependent.
Discover Your Sadism Type
The test uses Dr. Millon’s theory to sort you into one of the sadism categories, only if you are a sadistic person. Here’s what to know about each type.
#1. Enforcing Sadism happens when the terror is in the public interest. Police brutality could be an example of enforcing sadistic behavior because it’s portrayed as a necessary action to protect the innocent.
#2. Explosive Sadism is unpredictable and sudden bursts into harmful, aggressive, and violent behavior. A person with such SP (i.e., an explosive sadistic personality) might seem normal when calm. But they would become cruel when irritated.
#3. Spineless Sadism is when a person dominates a weak individual—also referred to as a scapegoat.
#4. Tyrannical Sadism is a tendency to force others to submit through brutality.
The Test Reveals the Kind of Pain You Enjoy Most
To answer questions like, “Am I a sadist?” it’s crucial to review your views on agony. Many individuals fantasize about sexual pain, others enjoy psychological misery, and some prefer physical torment.
However, the good thing is that the sadism quiz exposes which group you belong to.
Emotional
Emotional sadism is the most common type of SP. It’s when a person deliberately causes psychological agony in others or uses emotional abuse as a means of having fun.
Physical
A person with a sadistic personality might be fascinated by the act of violence, trying to choke, slap, punch, cut, or even shoot others.
Sexual
In sexual sadism or paraphilia, the person derives pleasure from hardcore and brutal sex. Of course, not everyone participating in BDSM is sadistic. However, SP is more common among such individuals.
Vicarious
In some cases, the person with a sadistic personality doesn’t engage in any violent activity. However, they enjoy watching it when performed by others. So, they might obsess over things like snuff films.
Examples of Sadistic Behavior
- Dr. Todd Grande, a Licensed Professional Counselor of Mental Health, provides some examples of sadistic behaviors on his YouTube channel. Here’s an excerpt.
- As an example of sadistic behavior, imagine a bully who humiliates high-performing students. It might be a coping mechanism for their low grades. But they will also enjoy the pain that their negative remarks cause.
- Imagine a wife who makes fun of his spouse’s financial struggles or devalues their job. Such behaviors are sadistic regardless of the intention.
Why Someone Becomes Sadistic?
Although the actual reason is unclear, it’s believed that sadism is caused by operant conditioning, meaning that you learn to replicate it. In other words, it’s caused by the environmental factors and the life experiences of a person.
Read Before Taking the Sadism Test
The questionnaire is designed to answer questions like, “Are you sadistic?” And it does a good job distinguishing overlapping conditions such as masochism, psychopathy, or sadomasochism. However, there are a couple of things you should know before taking it.
It is not a clinical diagnosis.
As of DSM-4, sadism is no longer considered a personality disorder due to its comorbidity. So, only a clinical test can determine if you are sadistic or not. Please, do not replace the online versions (like the one on this page) with an actual medical evaluation.
You should not ignore the results.
Although not a diagnosis, the Sadism Test results are still important. Scoring high indicates you are likely to experience pleasure by hurting others or yourself, which should not be ignored. You might want to discuss the results with a psychologist or a trained therapist and seek professional help.
Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline if you’re a victim.
If you are a victim of a sadistic person’s actions, please call 1.800.799.SAFE (7233). It’s a safe hotline that provides 24/7 support for people like you. Visit thehotline.org for more info.
Disclaimer
QuizExpo is not associated with any of the names mentioned in the Sadism Test.
How to Play?
Playing personality quizzes is straightforward: Choose the option that’s true about you—or you relate to—and select “Next.” Unlike trivia quizzes, personality tests have no right or wrong answers. But the questions are in forced-choice format. The point is to push you to choose an option that makes the most sense, not the one that’s 100% true. For the most accurate results, don’t overthink your responses. Go with options that you “feel” are the best.
Questions of the quiz
- 1How would you persuade one to do something for you?
I'd ask nicely
I'd only ask people who couldn't say no to me
I'd give orders and never take no as an answer
I would remind them of things I've done for them
I'd try to ask politely as long as they don't act up
I'd blackmail them into doing what I want them to
- 2How do you feel when watching a brutal scene in a movie?
Disgusted or scared
It usually makes me smile, and I like it.
It makes me feel excited—especially if it's graphic.
I feel happy when the character I dislike is killed brutally.
It depends on my mood. But I usually feel good watching them.
I feel thrilled and, sometimes, turned on.
- 3How would you react if your partner refused to do what you asked them to?
Nothing. They don't have to do whatever I say.
I'd probably wait for the right time to give them a lesson.
I'd remind them of the consequences.
I'd remind them of their duties and responsibilities in the relationship.
It depends on my mood. I might flip out if it's something important.
I like it when my partner turns into a brat. So, I'd just enjoy it.
- 4What do you think about non-consensual sexual activities?
It's unacceptable and should be punished
I think some submissive people like to be forced.
It sounds super-kinky and fun. I like it.
I think it's not that of a big deal and people should deal with it.
Sometimes, I fantasize about it. But it depends on my mood.
I love it. I enjoy being forced by or forcing someone.
- 5Have you ever fantasized about engaging in hardcore sexual activities?
If yes, which one describes your fantasies better?
No, I don't like such activities.
Yes, I fantasize about dominating someone.
Yes, I fantasize about forcing someone.
Yes, I fantasize about blackmailing someone.
Yes, I fantasize about being aggressive and scaring my partner.
Yes, I fantasize about erotic torture.
- 6How do you treat people who don't stand up for themselves and seem weak?
I try to help them out or support them.
I treat them like a piece of sh** because they deserve it.
I turn them into my flunkies and force them to follow my orders.
I humiliate them to encourage them to stand up for themselves.
I treat them like my enemies because they inspire others to be weak.
I relate to them and often want to get closer to them.
- 7How do you feel when you hear about police brutality on the news?
I feel disgusted, sad, or irritated.
I feel fine. Sh** happens.
I feel cool because criminals deserve it.
I think it's a hoax; there's no police brutality.
I relate to the cops who lose their control and become violent.
It makes me feel excited and sometimes even turns me on.
- 8What type of pranks would you like to pull on your friends or partner?
I don't like pulling pranks on others.
I like to scare them to their deaths.
I enjoy physical pranks like choking or slapping.
I prefer verbal pranks and embarrassing my friends/partners.
I like unpredictable pranks that fu** with someone's brain.
I enjoy it when I get pranked or humiliated.
- 9How do you feel about your family, especially your parents?
I love them.
I don't like them.
I hate them.
I think they're stupid.
I have a love-hate relationship with them.
I feel numb, and I don't give a damn about them.
- 10What do you think of a person who manipulates the weak to achieve their personal goal?
I think they're a horrible person.
I think they're smart.
I think they're respectable.
I think they're just being strategic.
I don't know. It depends on who they're manipulating.
Some weak people enjoy being manipulated. So, it's not a big deal.
- 11What type of person do you think deserves to be mistreated?
No one deserves mistreatment.
A loser.
A coward who can't fight.
A scandalous celebrity.
A disobeying spouse.
I do. I deserve it.
- 12Why do you watch horror films?
I don't watch horror movies.
Because they're fun
Because I like it when people are scared
Because it makes me feel stronger
Because I relate to the bad guys in horror movies.
Because they're erotic and kinky.
- 13Which one sounds like the best way to revenge?
I don't like the idea of revenge.
Making them your bit** is the best revenge.
Kicking the person's ass is the best revenge.
Embarrassing and humiliating them in public.
I don't like strategic revenge. I like sudden ones.
I like all the mentioned methods.
- 14Which one could be sexually pleasurable?
Spending a night with your lover in a luxurious hotel.
Doing it with a partner who is submissive to you.
Doing it with a partner who fears you.
Getting your way with someone who works for you.
Doing it right after an argument and while you're mad at your partner.
All of them sound like fun.
- 15Why do you think bullying is still a relevant issue in schools?
It's because of a lack of education.
It's because most kids don't know how to fight.
It's because some kids deserve to be bullied.
This is the survival of the fittest. It's an inevitable part of life.
You should respect bullies. That's when they stop bothering you.
I think some people enjoy being bullied, so they don't complain.
- 16Which one describes your dream partner?
Supportive
Submissive
Resilient
Brat-ish
Quiet
Kinky
- 17How easy is it for you to understand the emotions of others?
It's pretty easy.
It's challenging.
It's almost impossible.
It's easy. But I don't care for others' emotions.
It's usually easy. But I can't do it when I'm angry.
I don't know. I feel like I have no emotions.
- 18How do you react when someone opens up to you?
I try to be kind and helpful
I usually make fun of them
I ask them to stop because I don't care.
I carefully listen so I can use the information to my advantage.
I might get irritated and flip out. But it depends.
I pretend I'm listening while secretly enjoying their pain.
- 19Do you fantasize about dominating others?
No, not really
Yes, quite often
Yes, all the time.
Yes, I fantasize about people working for me.
Yes, especially when I'm angry.
I usually fantasize about being dominated.
- 20Final question; do you believe that violence can solve problems?
No, violence is never a solution
It's certainly one of the options.
Yes, it's usually the only effective solution.
I think systematic violence could solve lots of issues.
IDK. But it's certainly one of my go-to options.
I'm not sure about the answer. A part of me likes aggression.