Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies (VAST)

All people have different sets of psychological traits and incentives to obtain the so-called reward hormones: serotonin, dopamine and endorphin. Unfortunately, some people get pleasure from hurting, insulting or humiliating others. This personality trait is called sadism. The term comes from the French philosopher and writer Marquis de Sade, who was the first to describe it in detail.

Almost everyone has a tendency to sadism to one degree or another. It usually increases in late adolescence and is more typical for boys than for girls. The mechanisms by which this tendency develops are still being studied. But scientists agree that a tendency to sadism is influenced by a combination of different factors: from genetic predisposition to environmental factors. A high level of sadism among adults significantly increases the risk of committing a crime, and can also lead to problems in relationships with a sexual partner and difficulties in the professional sphere.

The Varieties of Sadistic Tendencies Test (VAST) was developed by Professor D. L. Paulhus and allows you to quickly determine the level of your sadistic tendencies on two scales:

Direct sadism - cruel treatment, a tendency to aggression with the aim of humiliating another person, limiting their freedom, dominating them.

Vicarious sadism - the desire to watch a person humiliate themselves, experience physical pain or moral torment. In this case, the observer is not the initiator of sadistic actions.

Find out how strong your sadistic tendencies are with this free online test.