Important Disclaimer
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.
What This Assessment 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
16
Questions
4–6
Minutes
100%
Confidential
The 16 Questions
- A: I really like to be the center of attention — B: It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention
- A: I am no better or worse than most people — B: I think I am a special person
- A: Everybody likes to hear my stories — B: Sometimes I tell good stories
- A: I usually get the respect that I deserve — B: I insist upon getting the respect that is due me
- A: I don't mind following orders — B: I like having authority over people
- A: I am going to be a great person — B: I hope I am going to be successful
- A: I sometimes depend on people to get things done — B: I rarely depend on anyone else to get things done
- A: Sometimes I tell good stories — B: Everybody likes to hear my stories
- A: I expect a great deal from other people — B: I like to do things for other people
- A: I am not good at influencing people — B: I am good at getting people to do what I want
- A: I am a born leader — B: Leadership is a quality that takes a long time to develop
- A: I like to look at my body — B: I am not particularly interested in looking at my body
- A: I find it easy to manipulate people — B: I don't like it when I catch myself manipulating people
- A: I try not to be a show off — B: I am apt to show off if I get the chance
- A: I always know what I am doing — B: Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing
- A: I sometimes feel good when people come to me with their problems — B: I feel that I am better than other people
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.
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.