Moral Alignment Test

Which of the nine moral alignments best represents your ethical worldview? Answer these scenarios to find out where you stand on the moral spectrum.

Time Required: Approximately 8-10 minutes
Total Questions: 20 ethical scenarios

Question 0 of 20

Question 1

You witness someone stealing food from a store. They appear desperate and hungry. What do you do?

Report them to authorities but offer to pay for their food Quietly pay for the food without involving anyone Pretend not to see it and let them go Report them because stealing is against the law Do nothing – it’s not your problem Mind your own business Report them and demand prosecution to maintain order Consider whether there’s a way you could benefit from the situation Steal something for yourself while everyone’s distracted

Question 2

A corrupt official offers you a lucrative job in exchange for overlooking their illegal activities. What’s your response?

Refuse and report them to higher authorities Decline politely and distance yourself Refuse but expose them publicly through alternative channels Report through proper channels according to protocol Consider the pros and cons carefully before deciding Ignore the offer and move on Accept if the legal risks are manageable Negotiate for more benefits before agreeing Accept and look for ways to profit even more

Question 3

Your close friend asks you to lie to cover for them in a serious matter. How do you handle this?

Refuse to lie but help them face the consequences honorably Tell the truth but try to minimize harm to them Protect your friend even if it means bending the rules Refuse because honesty is required Weigh the situation and decide based on circumstances Do whatever feels right at the moment Refuse unless it serves your interests to help Help only if they’ll owe you a favor Use the situation to gain leverage over them

Question 4

You find a wallet with $500 and full identification inside. What do you do?

Return it immediately through proper channels Contact the owner directly to return it Return the money but bypass official procedures Turn it in to the police as required by law Leave it where you found it for someone else to deal with Take the cash but leave the wallet where it can be found Keep it if you can legally claim it after a waiting period Keep the money and discard the wallet Keep everything without a second thought

Question 5

An unjust law is preventing people from getting help they desperately need. What’s your stance?

Work within the system to change the law properly Help people while advocating for legal change Break the law to help people and face the consequences Follow the law but petition for change through official channels Stay neutral and let others fight this battle Ignore the law if it doesn’t affect you personally Uphold the law regardless of its morality Exploit the situation for personal gain Use the chaos to pursue your own interests

Question 6

You have information that could save lives but revealing it would break a promise. What do you do?

Reveal the information because saving lives takes priority Find a way to warn people without directly breaking your promise Break the promise without hesitation to save lives Keep the promise unless legally obligated to speak Carefully weigh both obligations before deciding Do whatever causes you the least trouble Keep your promise because your word is law to you Sell the information to the highest bidder Keep quiet and watch what happens

Question 7

A group you belong to is planning something unethical. What’s your reaction?

Try to stop them and report if necessary Voice your concerns and refuse to participate Leave the group and warn potential victims Follow chain of command to address the issue Distance yourself quietly without getting involved Leave if it affects you, otherwise don’t care Go along if it benefits the group’s power Participate if there’s something in it for you Join in enthusiastically

Question 8

You can get ahead in your career by taking credit for someone else’s work. What do you do?

Give proper credit and succeed through honest means Share credit fairly Refuse to play these political games Follow company protocol for attribution Consider whether others would do the same Take credit if no one will notice Take credit if you can justify it within the rules Take the credit without hesitation Take credit and undermine them further

Question 9

A stranger needs your help urgently, but it would significantly inconvenience you. What do you do?

Help them because it’s the right thing to do Help despite the inconvenience Drop everything to help Direct them to proper authorities or services Help if it’s not too much trouble Probably not help unless you feel like it Only help if required by law or duty Ignore them and continue with your plans Take advantage of their vulnerable state

Question 10

You’re in a position of authority. How do you approach leadership?

Lead with honor and fairness, following established principles Focus on what’s best for everyone involved Give people freedom and trust them to do right Maintain strict order and follow procedures Balance different interests pragmatically Let people do what they want as long as it doesn’t affect you Use your position to maintain control and advance your agenda Do whatever benefits you most Rule through fear and intimidation

Question 11

You discover a loophole that lets you avoid paying taxes legally. What do you do?

Pay your fair share and report the loophole Pay what you should even if you don’t have to Use it if the system is corrupt, otherwise pay fairly Follow the tax code exactly as written Consider the ethics before deciding Use it without overthinking Use it since it’s technically legal Use it and find more loopholes Use it and don’t pay anything if possible

Question 12

Someone weaker than you is being bullied. How do you respond?

Intervene and report the bullies to authorities Stand up for them Defend them regardless of consequences Report it through proper channels Depends on the circumstances Stay out of it Intervene only if it violates rules you care about Watch without getting involved Join the bullies

Question 13

You’re asked to follow orders you find morally questionable. What do you do?

Refuse and explain your moral objections Try to find a better alternative approach Refuse outright and accept consequences Follow orders unless they’re illegal Weigh the specific situation carefully Do what’s easiest for you Follow orders if they come from legitimate authority Follow if it benefits you, refuse if it doesn’t Do it and make it worse for fun

Question 14

You have the opportunity to break a rule that nobody will know about. What influences your decision?

Your personal integrity – you follow rules even when unwatched Whether breaking it would harm anyone Whether the rule is just or unjust Rules exist for a reason and should be followed The specific circumstances of the situation Your mood at the time Risk of getting caught later What you stand to gain You break it just because you can

Question 15

How do you feel about traditional social hierarchies and authority structures?

They’re valuable when they promote justice and order They’re tools – useful if they help people They’re often oppressive and should be questioned They’re essential for maintaining social order They have both benefits and drawbacks You don’t care either way They’re useful for maintaining your power They’re fine as long as you’re not at the bottom They’re constraints to be torn down

Question 16

You witness injustice happening to a group you’re not part of. What’s your response?

Speak out and work to correct the injustice Help them however you can Fight against it actively Report it through appropriate channels Sympathize but don’t get directly involved Not your concern Only act if it threatens social stability See if you can benefit from the situation Make it worse for entertainment

Question 17

A loved one commits a serious crime. What do you do?

Convince them to turn themselves in and support them through justice Help them make amends to those harmed Protect them from unjust punishment but encourage accountability Report them because law applies to everyone Struggle with the decision and consider all angles Depends entirely on how you feel about them Help them avoid consequences if possible Help them only if they can benefit you in return Help them and participate

Question 18

You’re offered wealth in exchange for silence about harmful practices. What do you do?

Refuse and expose the harmful practices Decline and work to stop the harm Refuse and blow the whistle publicly Report through official channels Consider the full impact before deciding Take the money and move on Accept if the arrangement is legally binding Negotiate for more money Take the money and make things worse

Question 19

How do you approach promises and commitments?

Your word is sacred and you honor all commitments You keep promises unless breaking them prevents greater harm You value genuine intent over rigid promises Promises are binding contracts to be honored You try to keep them but circumstances matter You keep them when convenient You honor promises that serve your interests Promises are negotiable based on changing benefits Promises mean nothing to you

Question 20

What’s your philosophy on personal freedom versus social responsibility?

Freedom must be balanced with duty to society Freedom is important but not at others’ expense Personal freedom is paramount Social responsibility and order come first Both matter depending on context Personal freedom without concern for society Social control maintains necessary order Your freedom matters, others’ doesn’t Freedom to do whatever you want regardless of harm

Good-Evil Axis

Law-Chaos Axis

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References

Gygax, G., & Arneson, D. (1974). Dungeons & Dragons. TSR, Inc. The original alignment system framework.

Kaufman, S. B., Yaden, D. B., Hyde, E., & Tsukayama, E. (2019). The light triad of personality: Contrasting the light and dark sides of human nature. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 467.

Paulhus, D. L., & Williams, K. M. (2002). The dark triad of personality: Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy. Journal of Research in Personality, 36(6), 556-563.

Haidt, J. (2007). The new synthesis in moral psychology. Science, 316(5827), 998-1002.

McCrae, R. R., & Costa, P. T. (1987). Validation of the five-factor model of personality across instruments and observers. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(1), 81-90.