Few personality quizzes feel as personal as one that asks, “Are you difficult to get along with?” The Difficult Person Test, a free online quiz based on research from the University of Georgia, claims to measure seven traits that can make a person harder to deal with.
Traits measured: 7 ·
Research basis: Peer-reviewed academic work ·
Cost: Free ·
Typical completion time: 10 minutes ·
Platform: Online
Quick snapshot
- Seven core traits of difficult personalities (YourTango (lifestyle publication))
- Scores on a continuous scale (YourTango (lifestyle publication))
- Based on academic research (IDRlabs (test publisher))
- 35 forced-choice questions (YourTango (lifestyle publication))
- Takes about 10 minutes (YourTango (lifestyle publication))
- Anonymous and free (YourTango (lifestyle publication))
- Self-awareness of interpersonal challenges
- Improve workplace and personal relationships
- Identify specific areas for growth
- Reflect on high-scoring traits
- Seek feedback from trusted peers
- Consider professional coaching or therapy
Six facts at a glance, one pattern: the test is grounded in academic research but comes with important caveats about interpretation and real-world application.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Test Name | Difficult Person Test |
| Developer | IDRlabs (based on research by Chelsea Sleep and colleagues at the University of Georgia) (IDRlabs (test publisher)) |
| Number of Traits | 7 |
| Time to Complete | Approx. 10 minutes |
| Cost | Free |
| Based On | Peer-reviewed personality research (IDRlabs (test directory)) |
What Is the Difficult Person Test?
How it originated
- The test was created by IDRlabs (individual differences research site), a platform that produces quizzes based on peer-reviewed scientific studies.
- IDRlabs states the test is derived from research by Chelsea Sleep and colleagues at the University of Georgia, which examined the structure of antagonism in personality (IDRlabs (test publisher)).
- However, Chelsea Sleep later told other media outlets that she was not involved in creating the online Difficult Person Test (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
Who developed it
- IDRlabs, the company behind the test, describes itself as a collective of personality researchers but adds that it is not formally associated with any specific researchers or institutions (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
- The quiz is hosted on IDRlabs.com and also listed among other antagonism-based tests on their tests page (IDRlabs (test directory)).
The implication: the test borrows from real science, but the final product is an independent interpretation — not a direct replication of the original study.
The researcher whose work inspired the test says she wasn’t consulted. That doesn’t invalidate the quiz, but it means the test may not perfectly reflect the academic model it cites.
What Traits Does the Difficult Person Test Measure?
- The quiz examines seven distinct traits: callousness, grandiosity, aggressiveness, suspicion, manipulativeness, dominance, and risk-taking (YourTango (lifestyle publication); mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
Callousness
Described as low empathy and difficulty understanding the feelings of others (YourTango (lifestyle publication)). People scoring high on callousness may appear indifferent to others’ struggles.
Grandiosity
A feeling of self-importance and entitlement that can alienate peers (YourTango (lifestyle publication)). This trait overlaps with narcissistic tendencies.
Aggressiveness
The tendency to act with hostility toward others, ranging from verbal abrasiveness to outright confrontation (YourTango (lifestyle publication)).
Suspicion
Strong distrust of others and difficulty opening up, often leading to guarded or cynical interactions (YourTango (lifestyle publication)).
Manipulativeness
Exploiting others for personal gain while giving little in return — especially problematic when used to bypass reason or pressure others (YourTango (lifestyle publication); mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
Dominance
A feeling of superiority often expressed as a need to control conversations and decisions (YourTango (lifestyle publication)).
Risk-Taking
A penchant for danger and thrill-seeking that can put others at risk, both physically and socially (YourTango (lifestyle publication)).
The pattern: these traits cluster around behaviors that make collaboration harder. A high score on any one of them doesn’t make you a “difficult person” — it points to a specific tendency worth examining.
When a team has one member scoring high on suspicion and another high on dominance, friction isn’t a personality clash — it’s a pattern the test can help name before it escalates.
How Accurate Is the Difficult Person Test?
Scientific basis
- The test is grounded in research on antagonism and the Dark Triad, which includes narcissistic, Machiavellian, and psychopathic behaviors (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
- IDRlabs claims its tests are constructed from peer-reviewed scientific studies (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
Reliability and validity
- Exact reliability coefficients (Cronbach’s alpha) are not publicly listed for this specific test (YourTango (lifestyle publication)).
- The test’s clinical validity — whether it can predict real-world behavior — has not been formally studied in peer-reviewed settings.
Limitations
- Self-report bias is a known issue: people may not accurately assess their own difficult traits (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
- The test is not a clinical diagnostic tool. It provides a snapshot of tendencies, not a label.
The trade-off: the test offers a research-backed starting point for self-reflection, but its accuracy for individual prediction is unverified.
How Do I Interpret My Difficult Person Test Results?
Understanding your score
Results display a graph showing your level on each of the seven traits, along with an overall percentage indicating how easy or difficult you are to get along with (YourTango (lifestyle publication)). Scores are presented on a continuous scale from 0 to 100.
What a high score means
A high score on a specific trait suggests you tend to exhibit those behaviors more often than the average person. The test is designed to reflect tendencies, not permanent labels (IDRlabs (test publisher)).
What a low score means
A low score indicates that you rarely display that particular difficult behavior. Most people will have a mix of high and low scores across the seven dimensions.
Comparing with others
The test does not provide normative data from a large population. The average score is described as around 50 on the overall scale, but this figure is not sourced from a published study.
What this means: your results are most useful as a personal benchmark. Compare your own traits against each other to identify which tendencies might be affecting your relationships.
Where Can I Take the Difficult Person Test?
IDRlabs official test
- The primary version is available for free at IDRlabs (official test page). No registration is required, and the test can be taken in multiple languages.
Alternative tests
- Similar quizzes exist on lifestyle sites like YourTango and mindbodygreen, but these are explainer pages that link back to the IDRlabs version rather than offering independent tests.
Mobile apps
- There is no official mobile app from IDRlabs for the Difficult Person Test. The quiz is web-based and works on mobile browsers.
Why this matters: the official IDRlabs version is the most direct route to the test, but third-party sites may offer different interfaces or scoring interpretations.
For team leads and managers, the test’s real value lies in creating a shared language about interpersonal dynamics — not in giving anyone a permanent “difficult” badge.
What People Are Saying About the Difficult Person Test
“Most cultures have expressions describing people who are difficult to get along with.”
IDRlabs (test publisher)
“Manipulativeness becomes problematic when used to bypass reason, deceive, or pressure others.”
mindbodygreen (wellness media)
These perspectives highlight that the test taps into a universal human experience — dealing with people who are hard to work with — while reminding us that the same behaviors can be interpreted differently depending on context.
For a deeper look at one specific difficult personality type, explore our guide on narcissistic personality traits and how they affect relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the difficult person test anonymous?
Yes. IDRlabs does not require you to create an account or provide personal information. Your responses are processed in your browser and not stored on the server (IDRlabs (test publisher)).
Can I take the difficult person test multiple times?
Yes, there is no limit. However, taking it repeatedly in a short period may lead to biased results if you remember your previous answers.
Does the difficult person test diagnose personality disorders?
No. The test is not a clinical diagnostic instrument. It is designed for self-reflection and should not replace a professional evaluation (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
How is the difficult person test different from the Dark Triad test?
The Dark Triad test measures narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. The Difficult Person Test covers a broader set of seven traits, including callousness, aggression, and risk-taking, which overlap with but are not identical to Dark Triad dimensions (mindbodygreen (wellness media)).
Is there a mobile app for the difficult person test?
No official app exists. The test works in any modern mobile browser on Android and iOS.
What do high scores really mean in daily life?
High scores indicate you tend to display those difficult behaviors more often. That might mean you are more dominant in conversations or quicker to distrust others — tendencies that can affect teamwork and relationships but are not fixed.
Can I share my results with a therapist?
Yes. The trait breakdown can be a useful conversation starter in therapy or coaching, but it should be interpreted in the context of a full clinical picture.
For teams looking to improve collaboration, the Difficult Person Test offers a starting point for conversations about interpersonal dynamics. But the real work begins after the score: talking openly about how each trait shows up in daily interactions. The choice for any workplace is clear: use the test as a mirror, not a label — or risk turning a tool for understanding into a reason to judge.
Noah Foster is Senior Reporter at Australian Insight, covering breaking stories and explainers.