Twelve statements explore enjoyment of verbal harm, witnessing violence and physical domination. Some questions describe cruelty.
Method and research sourcesTwelve statements explore enjoyment of verbal harm, witnessing violence and physical domination. Some questions describe cruelty.
Responses range from 1 to 5. Average items 1–4 for verbal, 5–8 for vicarious and 9–12 for physical tendencies. No items are reversed. This page reports three means, each 1–5, without an overall score.
The original publication and supporting material document the questionnaire and its scoring.
Erin E. Buckels
Erin E. Buckels
Explore related experiences, practical guidance and support.
How to notice anger earlier, take a safe pause, discuss boundaries and seek help when there are threats or a risk of violence.
How to move from accusations to one practical issue, take a break without punitive silence, and check whether anything changes after the conversation.
This self-report is not a diagnosis or a prediction of violence. Enjoying horror films or combat sports alone does not establish cruelty. A score cannot replace attention to actual behavior, consent and harm.
