Moral Outrage Test (MOT)

The Moral Outrage Test (MOT) is a tool crafted to measure how prone you are to moral outrage—those fiery feelings when you see something you think is unjust. Drawing from the research of Kate Ott (2021), it breaks outrage into four dimensions: triggers (what sparks it), intensity (how strong it gets), righteousness (your need to be “right”), and public expression (how you show it). Built with a nod to psychological principles, the MOT reveals how much you’re wired to flip out over the world’s messes.

Ott’s work, published as “Moral Outrage in the Digital Age: Emotional and Behavioral Responses to Online Injustice” in Social Media + Society, dug into how social media amps up outrage—think viral cancellations or hashtag wars. The MOT explores triggers (like unfairness or hypocrisy), intensity (from mild irritation to full-on rage), righteousness (feeling morally superior), and public expression (tweeting, arguing, or stewing silently). These paint a picture of your outrage, from a flicker to a five-alarm fire.

You’ll answer about 40 items—simple stuff like “I can’t stand seeing people get away with lying” to trickier ones like “I’d call someone out online even if it starts a fight.” Scored from 0 to 100, low means you’re cool-headed, high means you’re a volcano. Data from studies like Ott’s peg the average around 38.6—people get mad, but it varies by personality, politics, and screen time.

Triggers measure what pushes your buttons—politics, betrayal, or cruelty. Intensity gauges how hot your anger burns. Righteousness tracks your urge to claim the moral high ground. Public expression shows if you’re loud about it or keep it inside. Results split by category, spotlighting your outrage profile.

The MOT doesn’t pick sides; it’s a mirror. It shows how quick you are to boil over and why, sparking thoughts on how you roll in today’s outrage circus. Whether you’re a peacemaker, a crusader, or just exhausted, it ties your reactions to bigger psychological trends.