Am I a Narcissist? Take our quiz to find out.

Narcissism is a word that gets tossed around a lot these days. You might casually use the word to describe someone you view as a bit self-obsessed or who you’re just not particularly fond of. “My ex was such a narcissist!” “That politician is so narcissistic.” The ubiquitousness of the word may even have you, at times, consumed with the worry that you’re a narcissist. 

But having the occasional tendency to be a bit selfish or overconfident is a lot different than having true narcissistic personality disorder. 

This free narcissist test is an assessment you can do in under 5 minutes to help spot clues of narcissism in you or someone else. 

Take the Narcissist Quiz

Below you’ll find a list of 32 statements. Answer yes to those that you relate to and keep track of your number of yeses. 

Before you begin, it’s very important to know this is only a screening tool to help you understand if being evaluated for narcissistic personality disorder could benefit you. It is, in no way, a replacement for a proper medical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder, says Tracie Zinman-Ibrahim, LMFT, CST, a therapist at NOCD. 

1. I easily wield my influence over other people.
2. I know that I am good because of the validation I get from others.
3. Given the power to rule in society, things would be better because of me.
4. I have an innate ability to avoid consequences for things I do.
5. In work or in my personal life, I can easily make myself the star of the show.
6. Failure is not an option for me.
7. I believe I was born with special gifts.
8. When a group needs a leader, I can easily step into that role.
9. I have no problem asserting myself and my point of view.
10. I prefer to tell people what to do than to take orders from others.
11. Getting people to do what I want them to comes easily to me.
12. Not getting others’ respect isn’t an option for me.
13. I tend to flaunt my physical attributes. 
14. I tend to take more risks than those around me.
15. It’s hard for people to get one over on me.
16. Given the choice to be happy or to be powerful, I’d choose power.
17. I’m no wallflower—when I have an opportunity to be the center of attention, I take it.
18. I can’t recall the last time I didn’t feel confident in what I was doing.
19. When I speak, I naturally attract an audience or admirers around me.
20. I use compliments and flattery to get what I want.
21. I insist on living life by my own rules.
22. My authority is palpable—people around me seem to know and understand my influence.
23. If there’s a person in charge in social or professional settings, I’d prefer that person to be me.
24. There’s no doubt that I’m going to be a success. 
25. People don’t doubt me—I can make them believe what I’m telling them.
26. Being a leader is an innate quality that not everyone has—but I was born with it.
27. I have a legacy I’m going to leave behind.
28. When people don’t notice me, I feel irritated. 
29. People have more to learn from me than I can learn from others.
30. I have exceptional talents and gifts.
31. I feel I’m more special or unique than others and should associate with other high-caliber people.
32. I deserve privileges and special treatment.

How to interpret your results

As this is not a diagnostic test, there’s no set number of yeses that means you are or aren’t a narcissist. That said, if you found yourself answering yes to many—or even the majority—of these statements, that’s a good indication that you may want to see a professional who can screen you for the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder. (By the way, even if you might have several narcissistic traits, it doesn’t mean you necessarily have the disorder.) A trained therapist can give you a proper assessment and help you determine the best next steps for you.

Key facts to know about Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Narcissistic personality disorder is a complex mental health disorder in which people typically seek admiration, lack empathy, and have a pattern of grandiosity— all to an unreasonable degree. Their high sense of self-importance hinders their ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. The disorder leads to problems in many areas of life, such as school, relationships, and work.

It’s estimated that roughly 1% to 2% of people in the United States may be narcissistic— and about 50% to 75% of narcissistic personality disorder cases affect people assigned male at birth (AMAB). 

Interestingly, experts split narcissistic personality disorder into two subtypes: grandiose (overt) and vulnerable (covert) narcissism, based on the outward behaviors people exhibit. Grandiose or overt narcissists are more likely to be extraverts and unabashed attention-seekers. Meanwhile, vulnerable narcissists— despite believing they are better than others—can be withdrawn, shy, and more sensitive to criticism.

What are the signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

Narcissistic personality disorder can look different for everyone—but here are some common signs and symptoms that people exhibit: 

• Require constant admiration from others.
• Believe that they deserve privileges and special treatment.
• Expect to be recognized as superior even without any notable achievements.
• Make talents seem much more significant than they are.
• Feel critical toward others and look down on people they feel are beneath them.
• Preoccupy themselves with fantasies about power, success, the perfect soulmate, intelligence, and beauty.
• Believe they can only associate with people who are just as superior as they are.
• Are simultaneously envious of others and hold the belief that others envy them.
• Ignore or are oblivious to the feelings and needs of the people around them.
• Take advantage of people to get what they want.
• Behave in a way that appears arrogant, boastful, or conceited.
• Believe they deserve the best of everything including material possessions.

What causes Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

The exact cause of narcissistic personality disorder is unknown, but researchers believe it may develop from both environmental and genetic factors.

According to research, negative experiences during early childhood may lead to the development of narcissistic personality disorder in adulthood. These experiences can include:

• Overprotection or “helicopter” parenting
• Being overvalued (having a parent that believes their child is more special and more entitled than others)
• Having parents that were too lenient (not setting enough limits or boundaries)
• Abuse or maltreatment
• Lack of warmth

Sometimes, medical conditions can lead to personality changes— including the onset of narcissistic personality disorder. These may include head trauma, epilepsy, brain tumors, and other illnesses. 

Are there any treatments for Narcissistic Personality Disorder?

There is no specific medication available to treat narcissistic personality disorder, but therapy can help in the management of symptoms.

Dialectical behavior therapy, or DBT, is a common therapy for narcissistic personality disorder. DBT is an evidence-based treatment in which you identify negative thinking patterns and learn how to change them. For example, if you think that everyone else is beneath you, DBT may help you notice that pattern and learn to express yourself in a way that is respectful and empathic. “In DBT, you will learn how to pause and think before you act,” says Zinman-Ibrahim.

On the other hand, “talk therapy doesn’t tend to be very helpful,” notes Zinman-Ibrahim. Talk therapy involves discussing past experiences, trauma, or underlying thoughts that may be causing or affecting your mental health condition(s) with your therapist. “Parts of it can help, but it is not going to solve a personality disorder,” she adds.

What if I have Narcissistic Personality Disorder and another mental health condition?

It is not uncommon to have narcissistic personality disorder and another mental health disorder at the same time—this is known as having a comorbidity. Research reveals several comorbidities that can occur alongside narcissistic personality disorder, such as schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar disorder (BPD), eating disorders, substance use disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Understanding whether you have comorbidities can help a mental health professional develop the best treatment plan for your unique circumstances. 

Understanding the link between narcissistic personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a chronic mental health condition in which people deal with a cycle of obsessions (unwanted and distressing thoughts, images, feelings, sensations and/or urges) and compulsions (physical or mental behaviors to address distressing feelings). 

There’s evidence that having OCD increases the likelihood of also developing narcissistic personality disorder. And if you have narcissism, you may be at increased risk for developing OCD. Sometimes, the excessive need for approval, attention, and validation from others can turn into obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors. For instance, someone might be focused on the belief that “no one thinks I’m good enough”—and in turn they obsessively ask for reassurance that they are, notes Zinman-Ibrahim. 

Here are other interesting overlaps between symptoms of OCD and the characteristics associated with narcissistic personality disorder:

• Controlling tendencies: According to research, people with OCD may feel the need to control others to relieve their stress and anxiety. This could lead to narcissistic behaviors, including manipulating or misguiding people to get what they want.
• Need for perfectionism: Narcissists and OCD sufferers can become obsessed with the idea of “perfect”—however there is a key distinction. Narcissists often think they are perfect while people with OCD tend to overestimate their responsibility in a situation, which can lead to wanting to be perfect. Nonetheless, someone with both conditions often has rigid and perfectionistic qualities. 
• Obsessive thoughts: OCD obsessions are unwanted thoughts, urges, feelings, sensations and/or images that are intrusive and cause distress or anxiety. Meanwhile, a narcissistic person may become “obsessed” with appearances, success, or power.  
• Common risk factors: As previously mentioned, narcissistic personality disorder may develop from a lack of parental warmth and other issues during upbringing. While the onset of OCD can be influenced by many factors, childhood trauma is one potential influence. 
• Emotional distance: OCD sometimes leads to social isolation, and when people with the condition lack interaction and support, they can become emotionally numb. Narcissists, on the other hand, also create emotional distance with others—but this is due to their limited empathy.

What kind of treatment do you need if you have both narcissistic personality disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder?

There’s no one-and-done treatment to manage both OCD and narcissism. DBT, as we’ve already discussed, is the go-to treatment for managing narcissistic personality disorder. But another form of therapy is needed to treat OCD. 

OCD is highly treatable with a specific type of therapy called Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP). ERP is a specialized OCD therapy that works by slowly exposing you to what triggers your intrusive thoughts and teaching you response prevention techniques to help you resist compulsions. ERP helps prevent the cycle of obsessions and compulsions—known as the OCD cycle. This evidence-based therapy is the gold standard and first-line treatment for managing OCD symptoms.

Treatment for OCD can begin to take effect relatively quickly, notes Zinman-Ibrahim, “while personality disorders like narcissistic personality disorder take a long time to treat.”

As for whether treatment for OCD and narcissism can occur simultaneously, the answer is yes, says Zinman-Ibrahim, who notes that if one mental health disorder is causing more distress than the other, focusing on one treatment at a time can be beneficial.