What This Test Measures
Narcissism is a personality trait that everyone has to some degree. At healthy levels, it looks like confidence and self-respect. At high levels, it looks like a strong need for admiration, entitlement and difficulty handling criticism. This test gives you an overall score and four facet scores:
| Facet | Type | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Leadership and authority | Grandiose | Wanting to lead and be in control |
| Exhibitionism | Grandiose | Enjoying attention and showing off |
| Entitlement | Grandiose | Expecting special treatment |
| Vulnerable narcissism | Vulnerable | Hidden superiority, sensitivity to criticism, feeling unappreciated |
The fourth facet matters because many people with narcissistic traits do not look confident at all. They may seem shy or insecure while privately feeling special and deeply wounded by any criticism.
How The Test Works And How It Is Scored
You rate 24 statements, six for each facet, from “Strongly disagree” to “Strongly agree”. Three statements are reversed, such as “I am happy to wait my turn like everyone else”.
Each answer scores 0 to 4. Your overall score and four facets are shown as percentages.
| Overall score | Result |
|---|---|
| 0% to 25% | Low narcissism |
| 26% to 45% | Healthy confidence |
| 46% to 62% | Moderate narcissism |
| 63% to 100% | High narcissism |
Sample statement (Vulnerable narcissism): “Criticism hurts me far more than I let others see.” Strong agreement adds 4 points to this facet.
All statements were written by PrismaTest. They follow published research on narcissism but are not copied from research questionnaires.
The Research Behind It
The name comes from Narcissus, a figure in Greek myth who fell in love with his own reflection. Sigmund Freud wrote about narcissism in 1914, and psychologists began measuring it as a personality trait in the late 1970s. The Narcissistic Personality Inventory, published by Robert Raskin and Calvin Hall in 1979, became the most widely used measure.
Researchers now distinguish two forms:
- Grandiose narcissism: bold, dominant, attention-seeking and outwardly confident. It overlaps with extraversion and low agreeableness.
- Vulnerable narcissism: defensive, anxious, hypersensitive to criticism and quietly resentful. It overlaps with neuroticism.
Both share a core of entitlement and self-focus. Research links narcissism with leadership emergence, but also with conflict, infidelity and poorer long-term relationships.
Trait Narcissism Versus Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition diagnosed by professionals, affecting a small percentage of people. Having narcissistic traits, even high ones, is not the same as having NPD. This test measures traits only.
All Possible Results
Low Narcissism
Modest and not attention-seeking. Make sure low self-regard is not holding you back.
Healthy Confidence
Balanced self-esteem: you enjoy recognition without needing it constantly.
Moderate Narcissism
Noticeable traits, especially in your top facets. Confidence and drive, with some risk to relationships.
High Narcissism
Strong traits across several facets. If they cause conflict, professional support can help.
How To Read Your Result
- High grandiose facets, low vulnerable: confident and attention-loving, but relatively resilient to criticism.
- Low grandiose facets, high vulnerable: quieter, but very sensitive to criticism and to not being appreciated.
- High on all four: both the outward and hidden forms are present.
If You Are Here Because Of Someone Else
Many people search for narcissism tests because of a partner, parent or boss. A test you take yourself cannot assess someone else. If you feel controlled, belittled or manipulated in a relationship, that matters regardless of any label. Talking to a counsellor or support service can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I a narcissist if I score high?
A high score means you have strong narcissistic traits. It does not mean you have narcissistic personality disorder, which only a professional can diagnose.
What is vulnerable narcissism?
A quieter form of narcissism involving hidden feelings of superiority, intense sensitivity to criticism and resentment at not being recognised.
Can narcissists change?
Traits can soften with age, self-awareness and therapy. Research shows narcissism tends to decline gradually from young adulthood to middle age.
Is some narcissism healthy?
Yes. A moderate level of self-regard supports confidence, resilience and ambition.
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For self-reflection only. This test cannot diagnose narcissistic personality disorder. See how we build our tests.