Clinician or parent? Hand your device over with the score hidden, or send the test to their phone.
16 questions · about 4–6 minutes
For each one, pick the answer that fits you best. There are no right or wrong answers.
Your answers stay on this device. Nothing is saved or sent unless you choose to email the results. This screening tool measures subclinical narcissistic traits and is for educational purposes only. It does NOT diagnose Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). Only a licensed mental health professional can make a clinical diagnosis. If you have concerns about your personality traits or relationships, please seek professional guidance.
- Questions
- 16
- Time
- 4–6 min
- Looks back over
- No set period
- Score range
- 0–16
- Cost
- Free
What the Narcissism Test measures
- Authority and leadership tendencies
- Self-sufficiency and independence
- Feelings of superiority over others
- Exhibitionistic behavior and need for attention
- Exploitative attitudes toward others
- Vanity and preoccupation with appearance
- Sense of entitlement
About the Narcissism Test
The NPI-16 was developed by Daniel R. Ames, Paul Rose, and Cameron P. Anderson (2006) as a shorter version of the original 40-item Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI-40) created by Raskin and Terry (1988). Despite its brevity, the NPI-16 demonstrates strong psychometric properties and correlates highly with the full-length NPI.
It is important to understand that the NPI measures subclinical narcissism — personality traits present in the general population — rather than Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), which is a clinical diagnosis requiring comprehensive professional evaluation. Everyone has some degree of narcissistic traits; they only become problematic when they cause significant impairment in relationships, work, or personal functioning.
The NPI uses a forced-choice format where respondents select the statement in each pair that best describes them. There are no right or wrong answers — the goal is to capture natural tendencies and preferences.
How the Narcissism Test is scored
- Each question has its own pair of answers: one scores 1 point and the other 0.
- The answers are added together for a total from 0 to 16.
Narcissism Test score ranges
The ranges this quiz uses to label a score. They describe where a score falls, not a diagnosis.
| Result | Score |
|---|---|
| Low Narcissistic Traits | 0–3 |
| Average Narcissistic Traits | 4–7 |
| Above-Average Narcissistic Traits | 8–11 |
| High Narcissistic Traits | 12–16 |
How to read the results
- It is a snapshot, not a diagnosis. A label only says where a score falls compared with the people the questionnaire was tested on. A word like "mild" does not mean a mild disorder.
- Look at the answers, not only the total. Which questions scored highest often says more about what to work on than the number does.
- Compare with yourself over time. Taking it again in a few weeks, or after starting therapy, shows whether things are moving. Compare each score with your own earlier one, not with someone else's.
- Talk it through. A clinician will ask what no questionnaire can: how long it has been like this, what else is going on, and how much it gets in the way.
The Narcissism Test compared with similar tests
| Test | Screens for | Questions | Looks back over |
|---|---|---|---|
| Narcissism Test (this page) | Narcissistic personality traits | 16 | No set period |
| Sociopathic Traits | Psychopathic traits, self-reported | 26 | No set period |
| PCL-22 | Psychopathic traits, checklist | 22 | No set period |
| Myers-Briggs Style | Personality preferences (informal) | 20 | No set period |
Using the Narcissism Test with clients
- Baseline, then repeat. Give it at intake, then at regular intervals, and compare each score with the client's own earlier ones to see whether treatment is working.
- Hand to client. Give it on your own device in session. The questions fill the screen with nothing else on it, and the scores stay hidden until you take the device back and press Show results.
- Send to someone. Send a link before the session by text or email. Tick "Ask for a copy of their results" and their results page offers to email you their score. They decide whether to send it. Your address travels in the link itself and never reaches our servers.
- Copy summary and Print. The results screen copies a one-line summary for the session note, or prints the results on their own.
- Nothing is stored. Answers stay in the browser. Results leave it only when someone chooses to email them, and that email is not kept.
Diagnosis codes often documented for this concern
For reference only. A screening score is not a diagnosis, and none of these follows from a score on its own.
Where to go from here
- Individual Counseling at Crown Counseling · in Brooklyn and online across New York
- Free resources for therapists
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a high score mean I have Narcissistic Personality Disorder?+
No. The NPI-16 measures subclinical narcissistic traits that exist on a spectrum in the general population. A high score does not indicate NPD. Only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose personality disorders through comprehensive clinical evaluation.
What is the difference between narcissistic traits and NPD?+
Narcissistic traits (confidence, ambition, desire for recognition) are normal and can even be beneficial. Narcissistic Personality Disorder is a clinical condition characterized by pervasive patterns of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy that cause significant impairment in functioning and relationships.
Can narcissistic traits be positive?+
Yes. Moderate narcissistic traits are associated with leadership ability, resilience, motivation, and healthy self-esteem. Problems typically arise only when these traits become rigid, extreme, and interfere with empathy and genuine connection with others.
How is the NPI-16 scored?+
Each of the 16 forced-choice pairs has one narcissistic and one non-narcissistic response. Your total score (0-16) reflects the number of narcissistic responses selected. The average score in the general population is approximately 5-6.
Are my responses stored?+
No. All responses remain completely private and local to your browser. No data is collected, stored, or transmitted to any server.
References
- Ames DR, Rose P, Anderson CP. The NPI-16 as a short measure of narcissism. J Res Pers. 2006;40(4):440-450.
- Raskin R, Terry H. A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988;54(5):890-902.
- Miller JD, Hoffman BJ, Gaughan ET, et al. Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: a nomological network analysis. J Pers. 2011;79(5):1013-1042.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5). 2013.