Methodology
Cluster is not a diagnostic instrument. It is a blunt spectrum map inspired by the DSM cluster tradition, the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders, and the ICD-11 trait-domain approach.
What it measures
The survey scores Cluster A, B, and C patterns; ten classic subtype indexes; six dimensional trait domains; and cross-cutting signals such as rage, manipulativeness, callousness, threat sensitivity, relationship instability, and control rigidity.
Why the language is blunt
Terms like psychopathy, narcissism, paranoia, and rage carry stigma, but they also describe recognizable human traits. Cluster treats them as spectra: sometimes useful, sometimes costly, sometimes harmful.
How scores work
Each item maps to weighted trait indexes. Scores are normalized from 0 to 100. Adaptive and destructive expression scores are calculated separately so high traits are not automatically treated as pathology.
Limits
Self-report can be distorted by mood, context, shame, self-image, and careless responding. Cluster includes validity flags, but only a qualified clinician can diagnose a personality disorder.