Does It Really Detect Narcissism?
Despite the claim in many viral posts, puzzles like this cannot diagnose narcissism.
True narcissism refers to a complex personality pattern often associated with conditions like Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which psychologists diagnose using structured assessments—not visual puzzles.
However, the puzzle can highlight differences in thinking styles:
Quick responders often rely on intuition.
Careful analyzers tend to double-check and reconsider their answers.
Neither approach alone defines someone’s personality.
How to Correctly Count the Squares
To solve the puzzle accurately, you need to look for all possible square sizes in the grid.
Usually this involves counting:
Small squares – the individual units in the grid.
Medium squares – squares formed by combining 2×2 smaller squares.
Larger squares – combinations like 3×3 blocks.
The largest square – the entire grid itself.
Many people miss the larger combinations, which is why the answer is often higher than expected.
What the Puzzle Actually Teaches
Rather than revealing narcissism, puzzles like this demonstrate:
Attention to detail
Patience in problem-solving
Awareness of cognitive bias
The importance of double-checking assumptions
They remind us that the first answer our brain produces isn’t always the correct one.
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