Covert narcissist test - PsychMechanics

Narcissism is of two types:

When we think of narcissists, we usually think of overt narcissists (ON). Overt narcissists openly display their narcissism. They’re usually extroverted, have high self-esteem, and are the loudest person in the room. They tend to be:

Covert/vulnerable narcissists (CN) also desire to be superior to others, but they subtly accomplish this goal. They’re socially inhibited, introverted narcissists.³ Outwardly, they show a socially acceptable persona to society, but the people closest to them are familiar with their inner, narcissistic side. They are:

The test

This test is based on the validated scale of covert narcissism known as the Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale (MCNS).⁶ It also incorporates research on the two-factor model of CN traits.⁷ The model categorizes CN traits into:

Self-absorption
Hypersensitivity

You’ll get a total score on covert narcissism as well as a category-level breakdown of these two factors.

Disclaimer: This quiz is a tool for personal insight, not a clinical diagnosis. It is intended to promote reflection and growth. For a deeper understanding, consider speaking with a licensed therapist or psychologist.

Covert narcissist test

Assess your level of covert narcissism traits.

TAKE THIS TEST

YOUR TOTAL POINTS

Category-level interpretation

Category	Level	Range (%)	Interpretation
Self-Absorption	Low	0-30	You show a balanced focus between yourself and others. You are likely empathetic, considerate, and not overly self-focused.
Self-Absorption	Moderate	31-60	You may prioritize your own needs and recognition at times. You might occasionally struggle with empathy or validation-seeking.
Self-Absorption	High	61-100	You tend to be strongly self-focused. You may feel entitled to recognition, struggle with empathy, and find it difficult to take responsibility.
Hypersensitivity	Low	0-30	You are emotionally stable and resilient. You can handle criticism without taking it personally and are less dependent on validation.
Hypersensitivity	Moderate	31-60	You may sometimes feel hurt by criticism or overlooked. You might seek reassurance and occasionally feel insecure.
Hypersensitivity	High	61-100	You are highly sensitive to criticism and rejection. You may feel misunderstood, hold grudges, and experience frequent emotional distress.

References

1
Dipaola, D., Triscio, V., Bosco, E. F., Ferraris, M., & Gandino, G. (2019). A study on narcissism: A comparison between the overt and covert typologies using the Thematic Apperception Test. Minerva Psichiatrica, 17-23.
2
Rose, P. (2002). The happy and unhappy faces of narcissism. Personality and individual differences, 33(3), 379-391.
3
Mathur, M., Khandelwal, P., Jain, S., & Jain, V. (2022). Guilt and shame proneness in relations to covert narcissism among emerging adults. Ambient Science, 9(1), 31-37.
4
Gupta, P., Tyagi, N., & Sayal, A. (2025, November). Covert Narcissism: A Review of Covert Narcissism and Its Psychological Impact. In 2025 IEEE 7th International Conference on Computing, Communication and Automation (ICCCA) (pp. 1-6). IEEE.
5
Brookes, J. (2015). The effect of overt and covert narcissism on self-esteem and self-efficacy beyond self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 85, 172-175.
6
Cheek, J. M., Hendin, H. M., & Wink, P. M. (2013, June). An expanded version of the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale. In Poster session presented at the meeting of the Association for Research in Personality, Charlotte, NC.
7
Stone, B. M., & Bartholomay, E. M. (2022). A two-factor structure of the hypersensitive narcissism scale describes gender-dependent manifestations of covert narcissism. Current Psychology, 41(9), 6051-6062.