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Passive Aggression Test

20 Questions
3 Minutes

Could you be passive-aggressive?

Passive-aggressive people may express or act on negative feelings like anger, annoyance, or hurt in indirect but still hostile ways that can jeopardize relationships, even between close friends or relatives. A tendency toward passive aggression can even lead us to be unkind to ourselves. Consider these questions to see where you fall on the passive aggression scale.

Using the key below, answer the questions based on how strongly you agree or disagree with the statement.

Strongly Disagree
Disagree
Neutral
Strongly Agree
Agree
1. If someone has upset me and I want to teach them a lesson, I will ignore them and their messages or texts.
Disagree
Agree
2. If I am unhappy with a colleague or classmate’s effort or commitment, I’ll probably just start doing the minimum required of me.
Disagree
Agree
3. I have mocked people I’m unhappy with by being sarcastic, then pretending it was just a joke.
Disagree
Agree
4. If I had information that would help someone I don’t much like, I would still share it with them.
Disagree
Agree
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5. I have given someone I’m unhappy with the silent treatment.
Disagree
Agree
6. When someone tries to support me, I might resist their help because I don’t really believe I deserve it.
Disagree
Agree
7. After an argument with my romantic partner, I have refused to show them any warmth or affection.
Disagree
Agree
8. I have come up with excuses like “I forgot” to avoid doing things for or with someone I’m unhappy with.
Disagree
Agree
9. If someone has annoyed me, I might reduce my involvement or commitment in our joint projects.
Disagree
Agree
10. I have intentionally revealed embarrassing past events or secrets of someone who has annoyed me.
Disagree
Agree
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11. When someone I care about has hurt me, I might halt our regular interactions like walks together or regular calls.
Disagree
Agree
12. When someone I’m unhappy with asks me to do something, I might do it wrong, then make excuses like “I didn’t know it was important.”
Disagree
Agree
13. When a friend disappoints me, I won't engage with them until they reach out to me.
Disagree
Agree
14. When someone compliments me, but I don’t think I deserve it, I will probably believe they're just trying to be nice.
Disagree
Agree
Macrovector/Shutterstock
15. When I feel down, I might not let myself do things or activities that might be good for me or cheer me up.
Disagree
Agree
16. Even if someone has declined to help me with a problem, I’m still willing to help them out.
Disagree
Agree
17. If I think my partner has ignored my needs, I might get payback by doing things like cooking or shopping just for me.
Disagree
Agree
18. I have deliberately stalled or delayed someone just to make them miserable.
Disagree
Agree
19. Sometimes I feel the need for affection or positive contact, but I still plow ahead with my routine instead.
Disagree
Agree
20. I can cut ties with someone who has made me upset even if I know it might hurt them.
Disagree
Agree

Who Is This Test For?

This test is for anyone curious about passive aggression, or concerned that they may act in passive-aggressive ways themselves.

We value your privacy - see how we protect the info you provide when you take this test.

How to Get Help

If you worry that you tend to be passive-aggressive with others, or with yourself, and that it’s limiting you personally or professionally, you can speak to a mental health professional about ways to address it. Find a clinician in the Psychology Today Therapy Directory.

Sources

Lim, Y-O, and Suh, K-H. Development and Validation of a Measure of Passive Aggression Traits: The Passive Aggression Scale (PAS). Behavioral Sciences, 2022

Schanz, et al. Development and Psychometric Properties of the Test of Passive Aggression. Frontiers in Psychology, 2021.

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