Lust
The Heart Chaser
The story behind this word
Lust (luxuria) was painted as a goat, or as the lovers in Dante's second circle, whirled endlessly on the wind — desire that took the weight out of them. Its counter, chastity (castitas), is the most misread word on the list: never "want nothing," but keeping desire in its place. Psychology has largely retired the vocabulary, yet it still studies the same line: when attraction is a signal, and when it starts making decisions. That line is what this dimension measures.
A tendency to let the spark drive — attraction making choices that belong to judgment and values.
Lust is aliveness — attraction, spark, the pull toward connection. The trouble starts when the spark starts doing the deciding.
When Lust is high
Attraction and passion influence you strongly. Honoring both excitement and deeper values keeps choices aligned.
When Lust is low
You're driven more by emotional depth than by surface appeal — a steady and grounded way to love.
Everyday signals
The higher this score climbs, the more these tend to show up:
- Decisions made at the peak of a spark
- Wanting the chase more than the connection
- Fantasies crowding out real presence
The healthy middle
Excitement is a wonderful signal — and a poor decision-maker.
One question to ask yourself
Am I drawn to this person — or to how being chosen feels?
One small practice
Give big relationship decisions a 24-hour cooling-off before you act on them.
The psychology behind it
Individual differences in desire are studied as sociosexual orientation (Simpson & Gangestad, 1991).
The other side of the axis
- ChastityThe Pure-Hearted Stander
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.
