Gluttony
The Indulgent Hedonist
The story behind this word
Gluttony (gula) sat high on the oldest lists, for a practical reason: everyone recognised it. Medieval moralists were surprisingly precise, naming five ways to over-indulge — too soon, too delicately, too much, too eagerly, too fancifully. What they were mapping was appetite outrunning satisfaction. Modern research on reward sensitivity and impulse control makes the picture easier to recognise than ever, in an age of second helpings and infinite scroll. That is what this dimension measures.
A tendency to keep chasing immediate pleasure after the enjoyment has faded.
Gluttony is less about pleasure itself than about the feeling of "more" — comfort that arrives faster than life usually gives it.
When Gluttony is high
"One more" is your default answer, and stopping rarely feels natural in the moment. Treats work better with edges.
When Gluttony is low
You stop when it stops being enjoyable — a quiet superpower in a world built to keep you scrolling.
Everyday signals
The higher this score climbs, the more these tend to show up:
- Eating (or buying, or scrolling) past the point of enjoyment
- Using treats to numb feelings you haven't named
- "One more" becoming the default answer
The healthy middle
Enjoyment deepens with edges: limits are what make a treat feel like a treat.
One question to ask yourself
Am I still enjoying this — or just continuing it?
One small practice
Before the next indulgence, pause and ask what you're actually hungry for.
The psychology behind it
Over-consumption maps onto reward sensitivity and impulse-control research rather than simple weak willpower.
The other side of the axis
- TemperanceThe Clear-Eyed Keeper
All 14 dimensions
Curious where you land? Take the free 42-question test.
This test is for educational and self-reflection purposes only. It is not a diagnostic tool and makes no moral judgment. If you are experiencing mental health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Veselka, L., Giammarco, E. A., & Vernon, P. A. (2014). The Dark Triad and the seven deadly sins. Personality and Individual Differences, 67, 75-80.
