Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) Screening — Covert & Grandiose Narcissism
This free narcissist test is based on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI), a validated screening tool for narcissistic personality traits. This narcissistic assessment test measures grandiosity, lack of empathy, need for admiration, entitlement, exploitation, and fragile ego. Screens for both overt (grandiose) narcissism and covert (vulnerable) narcissism. Also identifies narcissistic abuse patterns. This free narcissist test provides instant NPD trait assessment and resources. Many people take this test because someone suggested they might be narcissistic, or to understand if they're experiencing narcissistic abuse. "Is my partner a narcissist?" This test helps identify narcissistic relationship red flags.
Superiority & entitlement
Disregard for others' feelings
Constant validation seeking
Instant NPD screening
✓ Based on Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI)
✓ Screens for covert & grandiose narcissism
✓ Identifies narcissistic abuse patterns
Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a mental health condition characterized by pervasive pattern of grandiosity, lack of empathy, and need for admiration. This free narcissist test screens for NPD traits based on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory.
DSM-5 Criteria for NPD (need 5+ of 9):
1. Grandiose sense of self-importance
2. Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance
3. Believes they're "special" and can only be understood by other special/high-status people
4. Requires excessive admiration
5. Sense of entitlement
6. Interpersonally exploitative (takes advantage of others)
7. Lacks empathy
8. Often envious of others or believes others are envious of them
9. Shows arrogant, haughty behaviors or attitudes
NPD affects 0.5-1% of population, more common in men (but women may be underdiagnosed). This narcissistic assessment test screens for these core traits.
Covert narcissism (also called vulnerable narcissism, closet narcissism, or shy narcissism) is NPD with introverted expression. This covert narcissist test identifies subtle patterns.
Grandiose vs Covert Narcissism:
GRANDIOSE (Overt) Narcissist: Loud, attention-seeking, obviously arrogant, openly brags, dominates conversations, confident exterior, aggressive when challenged.
COVERT Narcissist: Quiet superiority, plays victim, passive-aggressive, appears modest/shy but harbors grandiosity, hypersensitive to criticism, martyrdom, subtle manipulation.
Covert narcissist signs:
• Self-pity and victimhood ("No one understands me")
• Passive-aggressive behavior
• Hypersensitive to ANY criticism
• Quiet superiority ("I'm too sophisticated for this")
• Envy disguised as moral superiority
• Martyrdom ("After all I've done for you...")
• Grudge-holding and silent treatment
• Procrastination and self-sabotage
• Deflection and blame-shifting
Covert narcissist in relationships: Guilt-tripping, playing victim when confronted, withholding affection, backhanded compliments, sulking, making partner feel "crazy" for being upset.
Covert narcissists are HARDER to identify than grandiose narcissists because they appear vulnerable, sensitive, even self-deprecating. But underneath is same lack of empathy, entitlement, and grandiosity. This closet narcissist test screens for these hidden patterns.
Narcissistic abuse is systematic psychological/emotional abuse by a narcissist through manipulation tactics. This narcissistic abuse test (KD 3!) identifies abuse patterns.
Common narcissistic abuse tactics:
1. Love-bombing: Excessive attention, gifts, flattery early in relationship to create dependency, then sudden withdrawal.
2. Devaluation: After love-bombing, narcissist criticizes, belittles, finds fault, makes you feel worthless.
3. Gaslighting: Making you doubt your reality, memory, perception. "That never happened," "You're crazy," "You're too sensitive."
4. Triangulation: Creating jealousy by comparing you to others, flirting, bringing up exes to make you compete for their attention.
5. Silent Treatment: Punishing you by withdrawing all communication, affection, attention. Stonewalling.
6. Hoovering: After discard, sucking you back in with apologies, promises to change, reminders of good times.
7. Projection: Accusing you of exactly what they're doing (cheating, lying, being selfish).
8. Blame-shifting: Everything is your fault. They never take responsibility.
9. Smear Campaign: Telling others you're the abusive one, turning people against you.
Effects of narcissistic abuse: C-PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma bonding, loss of self, constant self-doubt, hypervigilance, emotional flashbacks. Take our trauma test and C-PTSD test if experiencing narcissistic abuse.
Recovery from narcissistic abuse: No contact with narcissist, trauma therapy (EMDR, IFS), support groups (r/NarcissisticAbuse subreddit 500K+ members), self-compassion, rebuilding identity. Free narcissistic abuse test helps identify patterns.
This is my partner a narcissist test screens for relationship warning signs:
Early relationship red flags:
• Love-bombing (too much too fast)
• Future-faking (promises marriage/kids/forever quickly)
• Moves relationship extremely fast
• Isolates you from friends/family
• Wants constant contact/control
• Jealousy disguised as love
Ongoing relationship red flags:
• You're always wrong, they're never wrong
• They never genuinely apologize (only "I'm sorry you feel that way")
• Walking on eggshells to avoid their anger
• Constant criticism and put-downs
• Your achievements are downplayed or ignored
• They gaslight you ("That didn't happen," "You're crazy")
• Hot and cold cycles (loving then cruel)
• You feel like you're losing your identity
• Financial control or exploitation
• Sexual coercion or withholding sex as punishment
• They have double standards (rules for you, not them)
Is my husband a narcissist? Is my wife a narcissist? If you're constantly walking on eggshells, feel crazy, doubt yourself, feel drained, or question if you're the problem - you may be experiencing narcissistic abuse. This narcissist test for partner identifies these dynamics.
Can narcissists change? NPD is very resistant to treatment because narcissists rarely believe they have a problem (lack of insight). Most refuse therapy or quit when challenged. Change requires genuine self-awareness and years of intensive therapy - extremely rare. Don't stay hoping they'll change.
Narcissistic parent is parent with NPD who uses children for narcissistic supply (attention, admiration, control). This narcissistic parent test identifies family patterns.
Narcissistic mother signs:
• Competes with daughter
• Lives through children's achievements
• Refuses to acknowledge child's feelings ("You're too sensitive")
• Parentification (child becomes parent's emotional caretaker)
• Golden child / scapegoat dynamic
• Boundary violations (reads diary, controls appearance)
• Conditional love based on performance
Narcissistic father signs:
• Withholding approval/affection
• Rageful when challenged
• Demanding obedience and respect
• Taking credit for child's achievements
• Emotional absence or volatility
• Control through fear or money
Effects of narcissistic parenting: Low self-esteem, people-pleasing, difficulty setting boundaries, perfectionism, chronic guilt/shame, anxious or avoidant attachment, attracted to narcissistic partners (repeating dynamic). Take our childhood trauma test - narcissistic parenting causes ACEs.
Healing from narcissistic parents: Therapy (especially IFS or EMDR), setting boundaries or going no contact, grieving the parent you deserved, reparenting yourself, breaking intergenerational patterns. This covert narcissist mother test helps identify subtle maternal narcissism.
Malignant narcissism is most severe NPD subtype combining narcissism with antisocial traits, sadism, and paranoia. This malignant narcissist test screens for extreme patterns.
Malignant narcissist traits:
• NPD + antisocial personality disorder characteristics
• Enjoys causing pain/suffering (sadism)
• No remorse or guilt
• Deliberate cruelty
• Paranoia (everyone is against them)
• Vindictive and retaliatory
• Calculated manipulation and deceit
• May have violent tendencies
Malignant narcissists are dangerous - they weaponize abuse, destroy reputations, may physically harm. If you identify malignant narcissism in partner, prioritize safety. Create exit plan with domestic violence advocate before leaving. Call National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233.
A narcissist test is a screening questionnaire based on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) that assesses narcissistic traits: grandiosity, lack of empathy, need for admiration, entitlement, exploitation. This free narcissistic assessment test screens for NPD traits including covert narcissism and narcissistic abuse patterns.
Yes! 100% free, no sign-up, no email required. This free narcissist test is based on validated NPD screening tools. Instant results showing narcissistic trait levels. Screens for grandiose narcissism, covert narcissism, and narcissistic abuse. Narcissist test free with immediate results.
A covert narcissist (vulnerable narcissist, closet narcissist) has NPD but expresses it introvertedly: passive-aggressive, victim mentality, hypersensitive to criticism, quiet superiority, martyrdom. They appear modest/shy but have hidden grandiosity and lack empathy. This covert narcissist test identifies these subtle patterns.
Narcissist partner signs: lack of empathy, constant need for admiration, blames you for everything, gaslighting, love-bombing then devaluing, never genuinely apologizes, rage when criticized, controls you, exploits your emotions. This is my partner a narcissist test screens for relationship red flags. Also see: is my husband a narcissist test.
Narcissistic abuse is psychological/emotional abuse by narcissist through gaslighting, manipulation, devaluation, love-bombing cycles, triangulation, silent treatment, blame-shifting, smear campaigns. Causes C-PTSD, anxiety, depression, trauma bonding. This narcissistic abuse test (KD 3!) identifies abuse patterns and recovery resources.