What Types Of Questions Are Asked On A Narcissistic Personality Disorder Quiz?

Medically reviewed by Karen Foster, LPC
Updated October 21, 2024by BetterHelp Editorial Team

It can be tempting to want to learn more about your personality through the various methods available to you online. Personality quizzes often offer insight into the unique variables that can affect how one acts, thinks, and feels in specific situations. Some people choose to take a personality quiz to understand whether they might meet the criteria for a mental illness. 

Although these quizzes are not a replacement for mental health advice from a licensed professional, they may offer insight into whether you might benefit from professional support. One type of quiz people may take for this reason is a narcissistic personality disorder quiz.

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What is a narcissistic personality disorder quiz? 

A narcissistic personality disorder quiz is any form of personality quiz that asks questions about symptoms that may be related to narcissistic personality disorder. The traits highlighted in these quizzes may be associated with the diagnostic criteria in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). However, these quizzes are not meant as diagnostic tools and cannot necessarily assess whether someone might be living with this condition. 

You can find narcissistic personality disorder quizzes online. When taking these quizzes, note that they are for entertainment purposes or better self-awareness. Although you may receive a high result, that might not necessarily mean you’re living with a mental illness. 

What is narcissistic personality disorder?

Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition involving persistent patterns of behavior that show high self-perceived importance and a lack of consideration for others. It is one of four cluster A personality disorders in the DSM-5, along with histrionic personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder. Like these conditions, narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by erratic behavior, intense emotions, and fraught interpersonal relationships. The symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, according to the DSM-5, include the following: 

  • A grandiose sense of self-importance

  • Preoccupation with fantasies, success, power, idealistic relationships, beauty, or accomplishment, often without the work it can take to achieve these ideals 

  • A belief that they are entitled to more than others

  • A belief that they are more beautiful, intelligent, interesting, or likable than others

  • Exploitation and manipulation 

  • Arrogance

  • A lack of empathy

  • A desire for excessive admiration and compliments

  • A belief that they are “special” 

For a diagnosis of NPD, these behaviors must be long-term and cause a decrease in the quality of one’s life and daily functioning. Often, these behaviors cause challenges in relationships, careers, and home life. Someone with NPD may not realize that they have NPD because they believe they are “perfect” or “better than others”. It may also be difficult to identify NPD because symptoms of the disorder can overlap with those of other conditions (e.g., bipolar disorder). 

What questions are on a narcissistic personality disorder quiz? 

There are several questions you might encounter on a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) quiz online. Below are a few categories that might be addressed and the types of questions related to them. 

Grandiosity and self-interest

Grandiosity and self-interest symptoms are related to ideas that one is better than others or has “special” qualities. Questions you might see on a quiz related to this category include the following: 

  • Do you often believe that others are envious of you?

  • Do you feel you are more beautiful, attractive, or desirable than others? 

  • Do you feel that human beings are not equal in intelligence, beauty, and potential? 

  • Do you feel you are worth more than others? 

  • Do you often try to manipulate others to achieve your goals?

  • Do you want excessive admiration from others to feel seen? 

  • Do you believe you can only be understood by others you consider as “special” or as “worthy” as you? 

  • Do you often exaggerate your talents or accomplishments to appear better than others? 

  • Do you try to undermine the accomplishments of others to highlight your own? 

If you said yes to many of these questions, you might be considered to have moderate to high narcissistic traits. This result may indicate that talking to a licensed professional could benefit you. 

Self-esteem

Questions about self-esteem may also be asked on an NPD quiz. A few questions related to self-esteem and narcissism include the following: 

  • Do you often try to make up for your low self-esteem by lying?

  • Do you feel you need the approval of others to love yourself truly? 

  • Do you often try to one-up those you care about due to a feeling of inadequacy? 

  • Do you wish you could accomplish more and be seen more than others? 

  • Do you believe you could be more successful if people “just saw you” as you see yourself? 

  • Do you feel your self-esteem is low deep down, even though you try to showcase the opposite? 

Studies show that people with narcissistic personality disorder often have low self-esteem, which can seem ironic paired with the behavior they show to the world. If you dislike yourself, depend on others for validation, and try to behave as if you are better than others, you might be living with traits of narcissism. 

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Social behavior 

Some questions on an NPD test may be related to the behavior you showcase socially and the thoughts you direct at others. Below are a few example questions: 

  • Do you often “discard” people in relationships to look for new ones? 

  • Do you stop responding kindly to people after you’ve been in a relationship for a while? 

  • Do you start seeing people as “stupid,” “inferior,” or “ugly” after you’ve been in a relationship with them long-term? 

  • Do you try to sabotage the relationships of others to get what you want? 

  • Do you try to find people to date that make you look more attractive or desirable?

  • Do you use your current relationship to make an ex-partner jealous? 

  • Do you disregard the feelings of others in public? 

  • Do you cut people out of your life who start to see your behavior patterns as they are? 

  • Do you “love bomb” people or try to charm them when you first meet them? 

Social patterns in relationships are a significant indicator of narcissistic tendencies. If you struggle with these behaviors, talking to a professional could help you start to foster healthier relationships. 

Maladaptive thought patterns 

Maladaptive thought patterns are patterns of thought that drive unhealthy behaviors. A few maladaptive thoughts people with narcissistic tendencies might experience can include the following: 

  • “I deserve more than other people.” 

  • “Everyone I meet is beneath me.” 

  • “I only give empathy to those who deserve it.” 

  • “No one understands me as I understand me.” 

  • “My behaviors are okay because I believe they are.” 

  • “The opinions of others don’t matter.” 

  • “Anyone I hurt is just being dramatic.” 

  • “I don’t need to apologize if I don’t believe I did anything wrong.” 

  • “My needs come first in any social situation.”

  • “I’m not a narcissist; I’m just realistic.” 

What do your quiz results mean? 

If you receive a low score on a narcissist test, you may be at low risk of having the tendencies that are common in a narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) diagnosis. However, note that someone living with NPD can still get a low result on an online quiz, as these quizzes aren’t meant to be used for diagnosis. In addition, some people with NPD may lie to themselves about the behaviors they exhibit due to a lack of self-awareness, so it may take the trained eye of a psychologist to understand these symptoms fully. 

If you receive a moderate probability of narcissism on an online quiz, reaching out to a therapist might be beneficial to discuss this result further. In some cases, people have some traits of narcissism and some that are not necessarily part of the diagnostic criteria for NPD. It is possible to have narcissistic traits and not be diagnosed with NPD. 

If you receive a high probability of narcissism on a test, these symptoms may be concerning and something to further. A therapist can help you understand why these results are high and what the symptoms might indicate. However, a high result does not necessarily indicate a mental illness. 

Narcissistic tendencies vs. NPD 

Narcissistic tendencies or behaviors are different than narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). NPD is a diagnosable condition that can be noticed by a mental health professional, like a psychologist. Narcissistic tendencies are behaviors that may be self-serving or lacking in empathy but do not meet the full criteria for a personality disorder diagnosis. Whether you have been diagnosed with NPD or are living with these behaviors, therapy may be an effective treatment route. 

Want to know more about narcissistic personality disorder?

Support options 

A licensed professional can help you understand your narcissistic personality disorder test results, whether you’ve scored a low, moderate, or high probability. If you’re worried about attending therapy or want a more discreet option, you can also try online counseling through a platform like BetterHelp.

Online therapy allows clients to talk to a provider from home, which may feel more convenient for some people. You can also choose between phone, video, or chat sessions, giving you control over how you receive support. This option can be beneficial for those who require flexibility in their schedule. 

In addition, studies have backed up the effectiveness of online therapy for personality disorders. One study found that internet modalities showed significant promise in reducing distress and increasing the quality of life for those diagnosed with various personality disorders. 

Takeaway

Narcissistic personality disorder is a serious but rare personality disorder that must be diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional. Although it may offer some insight to take a narcissist test online, these tests are for entertainment only and do not replace the advice of a therapist. If you want to learn more about your results or discuss NPD in further detail, consider reaching out to a licensed therapist for support.
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