Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Questions

40

Duration

10 min

Original title

NPI-40 — Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Adaptation

Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Authors

Raskin, R. & Terry, H.

Created

1988

Example result

What the test measures

When and why to use it

The questions

1. Read each pair of statements and choose the one that best describes you. There are no right or wrong answers; respond as honestly as possible, even if neither statement perfectly describes you.
   1. A. I have a natural talent for influencing people. | B. I am not good at influencing people.
   Explores the patient's perceived ability to naturally sway or lead others.
   • A. I have a natural talent for influencing people.
   • B. I am not good at influencing people.
2. 2. A. Modesty doesn't suit me. | B. I am fundamentally a modest person.
   Assesses how the patient views modesty versus self-promotion.
   • A. Modesty doesn't suit me.
   • B. I am fundamentally a modest person.
3. 3. A. I would do almost anything if I were challenged. | B. I tend to be a rather cautious person.
   Probes the tendency toward bold, risk-taking behaviors designed to impress.
   • A. I would do almost anything if I were challenged.
   • B. I tend to be a rather cautious person.
4. 4. A. I sometimes get embarrassed when people compliment me. | B. I know I am a good person because people keep telling me so.
   Evaluates the patient's reliance on external validation and their comfort with praise.
   • A. I sometimes get embarrassed when people compliment me.
   • B. I know I am a good person because people keep telling me so.
5. 5. A. The idea of ruling the world terrifies me. | B. If I ruled the world, it would be a better place.
   Examines grandiose fantasies regarding global leadership and control.
   • A. The idea of ruling the world terrifies me.
   • B. If I ruled the world, it would be a better place.
6. 6. A. I can usually talk my way out of anything. | B. I try to accept the consequences of my actions.
   Assesses manipulative communication styles versus taking accountability for actions.
   • A. I can usually talk my way out of anything.
   • B. I try to accept the consequences of my actions.
7. 7. A. I prefer to blend in with the crowd. | B. I like to be the center of attention.
   Measures the patient's desire to stand out socially versus blending in.
   • A. I prefer to blend in with the crowd.
   • B. I like to be the center of attention.
8. 8. A. I am going to be a success. | B. I am not that concerned about success.
   Explores the patient's level of certainty regarding their future success.
   • A. I am going to be a success.
   • B. I am not that concerned about success.
9. 9. A. I am no better or worse than most people. | B. I think I am a special person.
   Probes the core belief of being inherently special or extraordinary.
   • A. I am no better or worse than most people.
   • B. I think I am a special person.
10. 10. A. I am not sure if I would make a good leader. | B. I see myself as a good leader.
    Evaluates the patient's self-perception regarding their leadership capabilities.
    • A. I am not sure if I would make a good leader.
    • B. I see myself as a good leader.
11. 11. A. I am assertive. | B. I wish I were more assertive.
    Assesses self-reported assertiveness and comfort with taking charge.
    • A. I am assertive.
    • B. I wish I were more assertive.
12. 12. A. I like having authority over other people. | B. I don't mind following orders.
    Examines the desire for interpersonal dominance and authority.
    • A. I like having authority over other people.
    • B. I don't mind following orders.
13. 13. A. I find it easy to manipulate people. | B. I don't like it when I find myself manipulating people.
    Explores comfort with and readiness to manipulate others.
    • A. I find it easy to manipulate people.
    • B. I don't like it when I find myself manipulating people.
14. 14. A. I insist upon the respect that is due to me. | B. I usually get the respect that I deserve.
    Measures the expectation of deference and the demand for respect.
    • A. I insist upon the respect that is due to me.
    • B. I usually get the respect that I deserve.
15. 15. A. I don't particularly like to show off my body. | B. I like to show off my body.
    Probes physical vanity and the desire to display one's body.
    • A. I don't particularly like to show off my body.
    • B. I like to show off my body.
16. 16. A. I can read people like a book. | B. People are sometimes hard to understand.
    Evaluates the patient's belief in their superior social intelligence and insight.
    • A. I can read people like a book.
    • B. People are sometimes hard to understand.
17. 17. A. When I feel competent, I am willing to take responsibility for making decisions. | B. I like to take responsibility for making decisions.
    Assesses willingness and eagerness to assume decision-making responsibilities.
    • A. When I feel competent, I am willing to take responsibility for making decisions.
    • B. I like to take responsibility for making decisions.
18. 18. A. I just want to be reasonably happy. | B. I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world.
    Examines grandiose life goals versus a desire for normative contentment.
    • A. I just want to be reasonably happy.
    • B. I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world.
19. 19. A. My body is nothing special. | B. I like to look at my body.
    Measures physical self-admiration and body-focused vanity.
    • A. My body is nothing special.
    • B. I like to look at my body.
20. 20. A. I will show off if I get the chance. | B. I try not to be a show-off.
    Probes exhibitionistic tendencies and the impulse to show off.
    • A. I will show off if I get the chance.
    • B. I try not to be a show-off.
21. 21. A. I always know what I am doing. | B. Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing.
    Explores the patient's projection of unwavering self-assurance.
    • A. I always know what I am doing.
    • B. Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing.
22. 22. A. I sometimes depend on others to get things done. | B. I rarely depend on anyone else to get things done.
    Assesses claimed self-sufficiency and the rejection of interpersonal dependency.
    • A. I sometimes depend on others to get things done.
    • B. I rarely depend on anyone else to get things done.
23. 23. A. I sometimes tell good stories. | B. Everybody likes to hear my stories.
    Evaluates conversational dominance and the belief that others are captivated by them.
    • A. I sometimes tell good stories.
    • B. Everybody likes to hear my stories.
24. 24. A. I expect a great deal from other people. | B. I like to do things for other people.
    Measures the expectation that others should serve the patient's needs.
    • A. I expect a great deal from other people.
    • B. I like to do things for other people.
25. 25. A. I will never be satisfied until I get all that I deserve. | B. I take my satisfactions as they come.
    Examines feelings of chronic entitlement and demands for just desserts.
    • A. I will never be satisfied until I get all that I deserve.
    • B. I take my satisfactions as they come.
26. 26. A. Compliments embarrass me. | B. I like to be complimented.
    Probes the patient's appetite for compliments and external affirmation.
    • A. Compliments embarrass me.
    • B. I like to be complimented.
27. 27. A. I have a strong will to power. | B. Power for its own sake doesn't interest me.
    Assesses the conscious drive for power and dominance.
    • A. I have a strong will to power.
    • B. Power for its own sake doesn't interest me.
28. 28. A. I don't care about new fads and fashions. | B. I like to start new fads and fashions.
    Explores the desire to be a trendsetter and cultural influencer.
    • A. I don't care about new fads and fashions.
    • B. I like to start new fads and fashions.
29. 29. A. I like to look at myself in the mirror. | B. I am not particularly interested in looking at myself in the mirror.
    Measures narcissistic vanity through the frequency of mirror-gazing.
    • A. I like to look at myself in the mirror.
    • B. I am not particularly interested in looking at myself in the mirror.
30. 30. A. I really like to be the center of attention. | B. It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention.
    Evaluates the intensity of the patient's need for social attention.
    • A. I really like to be the center of attention.
    • B. It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention.
31. 31. A. I can live my life in any way I want to. | B. People can't always live their lives in terms of what they want.
    Probes the belief in absolute personal autonomy and rule exemption.
    • A. I can live my life in any way I want to.
    • B. People can't always live their lives in terms of what they want.
32. 32. A. Being an authority doesn't mean that much to me. | B. People always seem to recognize my authority.
    Assesses the expectation that others will naturally defer to their authority.
    • A. Being an authority doesn't mean that much to me.
    • B. People always seem to recognize my authority.
33. 33. A. I would prefer to be a leader. | B. It makes little difference to me whether I am a leader or not.
    Examines the preference for leadership positions over egalitarian roles.
    • A. I would prefer to be a leader.
    • B. It makes little difference to me whether I am a leader or not.
34. 34. A. I am going to be a great person. | B. I hope I am going to be successful.
    Explores overt grandiosity regarding personal destiny and greatness.
    • A. I am going to be a great person.
    • B. I hope I am going to be successful.
35. 35. A. People sometimes believe what I say. | B. I can make anybody believe anything I want.
    Evaluates the patient's perceived persuasive power and capacity for deceit.
    • A. People sometimes believe what I say.
    • B. I can make anybody believe anything I want.
36. 36. A. I am a born leader. | B. Leadership is a quality that takes a long time to develop.
    Assesses the belief in innate, effortless leadership qualities.
    • A. I am a born leader.
    • B. Leadership is a quality that takes a long time to develop.
37. 37. A. I would like to have somebody write my biography someday. | B. I don't like people to pry into my life for any reason.
    Measures grandiose fantasies regarding historical importance and legacy.
    • A. I would like to have somebody write my biography someday.
    • B. I don't like people to pry into my life for any reason.
38. 38. A. I get upset when people don't notice how I look when I go out in public. | B. I don't mind blending into the crowd when I go out in public.
    Probes distress linked to a lack of public recognition or attention.
    • A. I get upset when people don't notice how I look when I go out in public.
    • B. I don't mind blending into the crowd when I go out in public.
39. 39. A. I am more capable than other people. | B. There is a lot that I can learn from other people.
    Examines beliefs of fundamental superiority and diminished respect for others' knowledge.
    • A. I am more capable than other people.
    • B. There is a lot that I can learn from other people.
40. 40. A. I am much like everybody else. | B. I am an extraordinary person.
    Explores the core narcissistic belief of being uniquely extraordinary.
    • A. I am much like everybody else.
    • B. I am an extraordinary person.