AN AMAZINGLY SIMPLE method for rooting out the narcissistic among us has been identified by scientists in America.
You simply ask someone the following question:
and wait for their response.
The test, devised in the Ohio State University, was found to be accurate when tested alongside other methods, such as the widely used Narcissistic Personality Test (NPI). The traditional NPI is a five to ten minute test requiring individuals to chose between two paired statements.
Where the NPI requires respondents to answer forty questions, this test requires only one.
Co-author of the test Brad Bushman Phd says: “People who are willing to admit they are more narcissistic than others probably actually are more narcissistic.”
People who are narcissists are almost proud of the fact. You can ask them directly because they don’t see narcissism as a negative quality – they believe they are superior to other people and are fine with saying that publicly.
The study was conducted by Bushman alongside Sara Konrath from Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy. Beyond being a trivial distraction, the test was viewed as having some serious implications for society.
On this, Konrath said: “Narcissistic people have low empathy, and empathy is one key motivator of philanthropic behaviour such as donating money or time to organisations”.
The test is being called the Single Item Narcissism Scale (SINS) and the researchers are keen to stress that it does not serve as a replacement for the longer form tests, which provide more detailed results.
On this, Bushman said:
Our single-item scale can be useful for long surveys in which researchers are concerned about people getting fatigued or distracted while answering questions and possibly even dropping out before they are done.
So now you know, if you want to check you’re a narcissist, simply look in the mirror and ask yourself… oh wait, never mind.
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