The Number of Circles You See Determines If You’re a Narcissist: Exploring Optical Illusions
In the ever-evolving intersection between psychology and viral internet content, a new optical illusion has been making waves on social media — and it’s raising eyebrows for more than just its clever design. Dubbed the “Narcissist Circle Test,” this mind-bending image appears to reveal something unexpected: your personality.
According to the trend, the number of circles you can identify in the illusion allegedly determines whether or not you show narcissistic traits. While it’s not a diagnostic tool by any scientific standard, the test has sparked widespread conversation online and a deeper look into how optical illusions can reveal quirks in how we see — and who we are.
The Illusion in Question
The viral image features a dense, chaotic pattern of intersecting lines and overlapping shapes. Some people report immediately seeing only a few circles — maybe 3 to 5. Others, after staring for a few seconds, claim to see as many as 12 or more.
The theory floating around social media is this:
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If you see fewer than 4 circles, you may have tunnel vision and a tendency toward self-centered thinking.
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If you see between 5 and 8 circles, you’re said to have a balanced perspective, neither too self-absorbed nor overly empathetic.
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If you see 9 or more, you’re supposedly highly empathetic, attentive, and grounded.
And yes — those who see very few circles are said to lean toward narcissistic tendencies.
Fact or Fiction?
Let’s be clear: there is no clinical evidence that an optical illusion can definitively diagnose narcissism. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a serious and complex mental health condition, defined by traits such as a lack of empathy, a deep need for admiration, and a distorted self-image. It requires assessment by trained professionals — not just a glance at a viral image.
But that doesn’t mean illusions aren’t revealing.
Psychologists have long studied how visual perception connects to personality and cognition. Optical illusions, in particular, highlight how our brains interpret — and sometimes misinterpret — visual information. They can expose differences in attention, focus, and pattern recognition. So while the “narcissist test” may not have scientific backing, it does tap into real cognitive science.
Dr. Lena Hartman, a cognitive psychologist, explains: “These illusions show us how much the brain fills in the blanks. Someone who’s highly detail-oriented may spot all the circles quickly, while others might overlook them because their brain filters out visual ‘noise.’ That doesn’t make someone a narcissist — it just shows how uniquely we perceive the world.”
The Deeper Takeaway
Whether or not the test holds any water psychologically, it does pose an interesting question: how much of what we see is shaped by who we are?
From a pop psychology standpoint, illusions like this open the door for self-reflection. They encourage us to look at our attention spans, how quickly we jump to conclusions, or how deeply we observe the world around us.
So next time you’re scrolling and see one of these “personality tests,” enjoy the fun — but take the results with a grain of salt. After all, there’s more to the human mind than meets the eye.
