If you’re here asking yourself “Am I a covert narcissist?” let me start by saying something important: The very fact that you’re willing to ask this question and honestly examine yourself is a powerful sign of self-awareness. Most people with deeply ingrained narcissistic patterns never reach this point of self-reflection.

Taking a covert narcissism quiz requires courage. It means you’re willing to look at potentially uncomfortable truths about yourself, and that’s genuinely admirable. Whether you’ve been told by someone that you might have narcissistic traits, you’ve recognized patterns in yourself that concern you, or you simply want to understand yourself better—you’re in the right place.

This self-assessment quiz is designed to help you identify covert narcissistic patterns with honesty and compassion. Remember, this isn’t about labeling yourself as “bad” or “broken.” It’s about gaining awareness that can lead to growth and healthier relationships.

Let’s dive in with kindness toward yourself and commitment to honesty.

Understanding Covert Narcissism: A Quick Overview

Before you take the narcissistic personality quiz, let’s clarify what we’re talking about. Covert narcissism, also called vulnerable narcissism, is a subtle form of narcissistic behavior that’s expressed through seeming sensitivity, victimhood, and hidden feelings of superiority.

Unlike grandiose narcissists who are obviously arrogant and attention-seeking, covert narcissists appear humble, modest, or even self-deprecating while secretly feeling superior to others. They seek validation indirectly, struggle with empathy despite appearing sensitive, and often play the victim when held accountable.

Key traits include:

• Hidden superiority complex masked by modesty
• Hypersensitivity to criticism
• Passive-aggressive communication
• Keeping score in relationships
• Chronic feelings of being misunderstood
• Difficulty with genuine empathy

Here’s what’s important to understand: Having some of these traits sometimes doesn’t mean you have a narcissistic personality disorder. Everyone exists on a spectrum, and context matters. Occasional narcissistic moments are human; consistent patterns are what we’re looking for.

Also, the fact that you’re taking a narcissism self-assessment honestly already suggests you have more self-awareness than typical narcissists possess. Real narcissists rarely question themselves this way.

Before You Take the Quiz: How to Use This Tool

This covert narcissist test is a self-assessment tool for self-reflection, not a clinical diagnosis. Only qualified professionals can diagnose personality disorders, and that’s not what we’re doing here.

Here’s how to get the most from this quiz:

Be brutally honest. Answer based on how you actually are, not how you want to be or think you should be. Your first instinct is usually most accurate.

Consider patterns over time. Don’t base your answers on one bad week or a difficult period. Think about your consistent patterns over months and years.

No judgment zone. This is about awareness and growth, not shame or self-attack. Whatever your results, they’re simply information to help you move forward.

Context matters. If you’re currently dealing with depression, trauma, or major life stress, your answers might be skewed. Consider whether these patterns exist even during stable times.

Ready? Let’s begin the covert narcissism self-assessment.

The Covert Narcissism Quiz: 30 Questions

Answer honestly with “Yes” or “No” to each question. You can also think in terms of “Most of the time” (Yes) or “Rarely/Sometimes” (No).

Section A: Self-Perception and Identity

1. Do you feel fundamentally different from or more complex than most people?
2. Do you believe you’re more sensitive, insightful, or emotionally deep than others?
3. Do you feel secretly superior to people while appearing humble outwardly?
4. Does being “ordinary” or “average” feel threatening or unacceptable to you?
5. Does your self-worth depend heavily on validation and recognition from others?
6. Do you have fantasies about being recognized as special, talented, or exceptional?
7. Do you often feel like people don’t truly understand or appreciate your depth?
8. Do you compare yourself to others constantly, measuring your worth against theirs?
9. Do you feel entitled to special consideration despite appearing modest?
10. Do you struggle with feelings of emptiness or a sense that life lacks meaning?

Section B: Empathy and Relationships

11. When someone shares their problems, do you immediately relate it to your own (usually worse) experience?
12. Do you perform empathy rather than genuinely feeling it? Does caring feel like work?
13. Do you keep mental track of what you’ve done for others and feel resentful when it’s not reciprocated exactly as you expect?
14. Do you give to others but feel bitter when your generosity isn’t appreciated “enough”?
15. Do you have unspoken expectations in relationships (covert contracts) that leave you disappointed?
16. Do you feel jealous, threatened, or diminished by others’ success or happiness?
17. Do you struggle to maintain long-term friendships, with relationships often ending badly?
18. Have people described you as “hard to read,” “withdrawn,” or “emotionally distant”?
19. Do you use guilt, sulking, or passive-aggressive hints to get your needs met?
20. Do you struggle to celebrate others’ achievements without comparing or feeling competitive?

Section C: Reactions and Emotional Patterns

21. Are you hypersensitive to criticism, even when it’s gentle or constructive?
22. Do you sulk, withdraw, or give the silent treatment when you don’t get the attention you want?
23. Do you shift into victim mode when someone holds you accountable for your behavior?
24. Do you carry deep shame that you hide carefully from others?
25. When upset, do you express it through passive-aggression rather than direct, honest communication?
26. Do you catastrophize perceived slights, rejections, or criticism, replaying them obsessively?
27. Do you hold grudges and ruminate on how you’ve been wronged or misunderstood?
28. Do you feel chronically unappreciated, misunderstood, or like your efforts go unrecognized?
29. Do you seek validation constantly but it never feels like enough?
30. When you make mistakes, do you deflect, justify, or explain at length rather than simply apologizing?

Take a moment to count your “Yes” answers. Be honest—this is just for you.

Scoring Your Covert Narcissism Test

Count the number of questions you answered “Yes” to and find your range below:

0-10 “Yes” Answers: Low Likelihood of Covert Narcissistic Patterns

11-20 “Yes” Answers: Moderate Narcissistic Traits Present

21-30 “Yes” Answers: Strong Covert Narcissistic Patterns

Now let’s explore what your score means and what to do with this information.

Understanding Your Results

If You Scored 0-10: Low Covert Narcissism

Good news—you don’t show strong patterns of covert narcissism. You likely have healthy self-awareness and emotional regulation. Everyone has some narcissistic moments or traits; that’s completely normal and human.

If you scored in this range but someone has accused you of being a narcissist, consider:

• They might be projecting (narcissists often accuse others of what they’re doing)
• You might have traits they’re misinterpreting
• There could be specific behaviors worth examining even if the overall pattern isn’t present

The fact that you took this narcissistic traits quiz honestly shows good self-reflection capacity. Continue monitoring yourself, stay open to feedback, and keep working on personal growth.

If You Scored 11-20: Moderate Traits

You’re showing some covert narcissistic traits, but not necessarily a consistent pattern. This is the “yellow flag” zone—not a crisis, but worth paying attention to.

Having moderate traits doesn’t mean you have narcissistic personality disorder. Many factors can create these patterns: past trauma, learned behaviors from family, depression, anxiety, or simply being in a difficult life phase.

What to focus on:

If you scored high in Section A (Self-Perception): You struggle with feelings of being different or special, and your self-worth is too dependent on external validation. Work on building authentic self-worth that doesn’t require being exceptional.

If you scored high in Section B (Empathy and Relationships): Your relationship patterns show narcissistic tendencies like scorekeeping, covert contracts, and difficulty with genuine empathy. Focus on giving freely, practicing real empathy, and direct communication.

If you scored high in Section C (Reactions and Emotions): You’re hypersensitive to criticism and use passive-aggressive or victim responses. Work on emotional regulation, direct communication, and taking responsibility without defensiveness.

This is your opportunity to address these patterns before they become deeply entrenched. Self-awareness is your biggest asset here.

If You Scored 21-30: Strong Patterns

If you scored in this range and answered honestly, you’re showing strong covert narcissistic patterns. Take a breath. This doesn’t make you a terrible person, and it doesn’t mean you’re doomed to these patterns forever.

First, acknowledge how difficult it is to face this. Most people with strong narcissistic patterns never get to this point of honest self-examination. The fact that you did suggests you have the capacity for change that many don’t.

What this means:

You likely have consistent patterns of:

• Hidden superiority while appearing humble
• Difficulty with genuine empathy
• Hypersensitivity to criticism
• Using passive-aggression and victimhood to manage relationships
• Chronic feelings of being special yet unappreciated
• Keeping score and having unspoken expectations

These patterns are probably affecting your relationships, career, and life satisfaction—even if you haven’t fully recognized it until now.

What this doesn’t mean:

• You’re inherently bad or evil
• You can’t change
• You’re beyond help
• Everyone will reject you
• You should give up on relationships

What to do next:

Acknowledge the patterns without drowning in shame. Start working on building genuine empathy, taking responsibility without justification, and addressing your hidden superiority complex. Consider finding support from someone who understands personality patterns and can guide you through this work.

Change is possible, but it requires sustained, honest effort and genuine motivation.

“But I’m Just Sensitive/Introverted/Traumatized…”

One of the most common questions after taking a covert narcissist self-test is: “Maybe I’m not a covert narcissist—maybe I’m just highly sensitive, introverted, or dealing with past trauma?”

This is a valid question. Let’s distinguish covert narcissism from other conditions:

Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) vs. Covert Narcissist:

• HSPs feel empathy deeply; covert narcissists struggle with genuine empathy
• HSPs are sensitive to all emotions; covert narcissists are primarily sensitive about themselves
• HSPs don’t have hidden superiority; covert narcissists do

Introversion vs. Covert Narcissism:

• Introverts need alone time to recharge; covert narcissists withdraw to punish or manipulate
• Introverts can be deeply empathetic; covert narcissists struggle with this
• Introverts don’t keep score; covert narcissists do

Trauma Response vs. Covert Narcissism:

• Trauma can create defensive patterns that look narcissistic
• Key difference: trauma survivors usually have capacity for empathy and genuine remorse
• Trauma responses often improve with healing; narcissistic patterns are more resistant

Social Anxiety vs. Covert Narcissism:

• Social anxiety stems from fear of judgment; covert narcissism stems from feeling superior yet unrecognized
• Socially anxious people don’t typically feel secretly better than others

The key differentiators are: genuine empathy capacity, hidden superiority complex, keeping score in relationships, and using victimhood manipulatively rather than actually feeling victimized.

What If You Scored High? Your Next Steps

If your narcissism quiz results showed strong patterns, here’s your roadmap forward:

1. Acknowledge Without Spiraling

Yes, you have problematic patterns. No, this doesn’t make you irredeemable. Hold both truths simultaneously. Acknowledge the reality without drowning in shame or making it another way to feel special (even “specially broken”).

2. Start a Honesty Journal

Begin tracking your thoughts, reactions, and patterns daily. When do you feel superior? When do you keep score? When do you play victim? Awareness creates space for choice.

3. Practice Genuine Empathy

Start small. When someone shares something, focus entirely on their experience without relating it to yourself. Ask questions. Try to feel what they’re feeling. This is a skill you can develop.

4. Take Responsibility Cleanly

Practice saying “I was wrong” or “I’m sorry” without adding “but,” explanations, or justifications. Just clean acknowledgment and apology.

5. Address Hidden Superiority

Notice when you feel secretly better than others. Challenge these thoughts. What would it mean

Common Questions About the Quiz

“Does scoring high mean I have NPD?”

No. This covert narcissism assessment can indicate traits or patterns, but only qualified professionals can diagnose narcissistic personality disorder. Traits exist on a spectrum, and having traits doesn’t equal having a disorder.

“Can I really change if I have these patterns?”

Yes, with genuine motivation and consistent work. Change requires acknowledging patterns, building empathy, taking responsibility, and addressing core beliefs about superiority and worth. It’s difficult but absolutely possible.

“Should I tell people about my results?”

Consider your motivation. If it’s for genuine accountability, tell trusted people who can support your growth. If it’s seeking reassurance or performing vulnerability, work on yourself first.

“What if I wasn’t totally honest?”

That awareness is valuable. Try taking the vulnerable narcissism quiz again in a few days with more honesty. Or ask someone who knows you well for perspective on these traits.

“Someone called me a narcissist but I scored low. What gives?”

Could be several things: they’re projecting (actual narcissists often accuse others), you have specific behaviors they’re responding to, or you’re not being fully honest with yourself. Get objective perspective from multiple sources.

Moving Forward With Awareness

Regardless of your score on this covert narcissist assessment, you now have valuable information about yourself. The question is: what will you do with it?

If you scored low, continue your self-awareness journey and stay open to feedback from others.

If you scored in the moderate range, you have the opportunity to address these traits before they become deeply ingrained patterns. Focus on the specific areas where you scored highest.

If you scored high, you’re facing difficult truths, but you’re also standing at a doorway to genuine transformation. The path forward requires commitment, honesty, and ongoing work—but it leads to more authentic relationships, less internal conflict, and the peace that comes from living with integrity.

Remember: taking this narcissistic behavior quiz with honesty shows you have capacity for self-reflection that many people lack. That’s something to build on, not dismiss.

Use your results as a roadmap, not a life sentence. Every day you choose awareness over defensiveness, empathy over superiority, and responsibility over victimhood, you’re moving toward the person you want to be.

You’re not defined by your traits—you’re defined by what you do with awareness of them. And that journey starts now.