Dr. Drew’s Narcissistic Personality Inventory

Mar 23, 2009

Dr. Drew Pinsky, a pretty cool guy, just released a book with Dr. S. Mark Young entitled The Mirror Effect: How Celebrity Narcissism Is Seducing America. In it, they give a well-known test called the Narcissistic Personality Inventory. I first head about this thing on the Howard Stern Show, and then tracked down the test on the USA Today site. Being someone who has gotten a lot of shit since he was a young child about having a healthy-sized ego, I thought I’d see how I’d do. Here’s the test – pick the answer which suits you best and do it all in one sitting:

A. I have a natural talent for influencing people.
B. I am not good at influencing people.

A. Modesty doesn’t become me.
B. I am essentially a modest person.

A. I would do almost anything on a dare.
B. I tend to be a fairly cautious person.

A. When people compliment me I sometimes get embarrassed.
B. I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so.

A. The thought of ruling the world frightens the hell out of me.
B. If I ruled the world it would be a better place.

A. I can usually talk my way out of anything.
B. I try to accept the consequences of my behavior.

A. I prefer to blend in with the crowd.
B. I like to be the center of attention.

A. I will be a success.
B. I am not too concerned about success.

A. I am no better or worse than most people.
B. I think I am a special person.

10.

A. I am not sure if I would make a good leader.
B. I see myself as a good leader.

11.

A. I am assertive.
B. I wish I were more assertive.

12.

A. I like to have authority over other people.
B. I don’t mind following orders.

13.

A. I find it easy to manipulate people.
B. I don’t like it when I find myself manipulating people.

14.

A. I insist upon getting the respect that is due me.
B. I usually get the respect that I deserve.

15.

A. I don’t particularly like to show off my body.
B. I like to show off my body.

16.

A. I can read people like a book.
B. People are sometimes hard to understand.

17.

A. If I feel competent I am willing to take responsibility for making decisions.
B. I like to take responsibility for making decisions.

18.

A. I just want to be reasonably happy.
B. I want to amount to something in the eyes of the world.

19.

A. My body is nothing special.
B. I like to look at my body.

20.

A. I try not to be a show off.
B. I will usually show off if I get the chance.

21.

A. I always know what I am doing.
B. Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing.

22.

A. I sometimes depend on people to get things done.
B. I rarely depend on anyone else to get things done.

23.

A. Sometimes I tell good stories.
B. Everybody likes to hear my stories.

24.

A. I expect a great deal from other people.
B. I like to do things for other people.

25.

A. I will never be satisfied until I get all that I deserve.
B. I take my satisfactions as they come.

26.

A. Compliments embarrass me.
B. I like to be complimented.

27.

A. I have a strong will to power.
B. Power for its own sake doesn’t interest me.

28.

A. I don’t care about new fads and fashions.
B. I like to start new fads and fashions.

29.

A. I like to look at myself in the mirror.
B. I am not particularly interested in looking at myself in the mirror.

30.

A. I really like to be the center of attention.
B. It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention.

31.

A. I can live my life in any way I want to.
B. People can’t always live their lives in terms of what they want.

32.

A. Being an authority doesn’t mean that much to me.
B. People always seem to recognize my authority.

33.

A. I would prefer to be a leader.
B. It makes little difference to me whether I am a leader or not.

34.

A. I am going to be a great person.
B. I hope I am going to be successful.

35.

A. People sometimes believe what I tell them.
B. I can make anybody believe anything I want them to.

36.

A. I am a born leader.
B. Leadership is a quality that takes a long time to develop.

37.

A. I wish somebody would someday write my biography.
B. I don’t like people to pry into my life for any reason.

38.

A. I get upset when people don’t notice how I look when I go out in public.
B. I don’t mind blending into the crowd when I go out in public.

39.

A. I am more capable than other people.
B. There is a lot that I can learn from other people.

40.

A. I am much like everybody else.
B. I am an extraordinary person.

SCORING KEY:

Assign one point for each response that matches the key.

1, 2 and 3: A
4, 5: B
6: A
7: B
8: A
9, 10: B
11, 12, 13, 14: A
15: B
16: A
17, 18, 19, 20: B
21: A
22, 23: B
24, 25: A
26: B
27: A
28: B
29, 30, 31: A
32: B
33, 34: A
35. B
36, 37, 38, 39: A
40: B

The average score for the general population is 15.3. The average score for celebrities is 17.8. Drew says he scored 16. Robin Quivers from the Howard Stern Show scored a 34, which Drew says is the highest score he’s ever seen.

Young says it is important to consider which traits are dominant. For example, an overall score that reflects more points on vanity, entitlement, exhibitionism and exploitiveness is more cause for concern than someone who scores high on authority, self-sufficiency and superiority, he says.

The seven component traits by question:

• Authority: 1, 8, 10, 11, 12, 32, 33, 36

• Self-sufficiency: 17, 21, 22, 31, 34, 39

• Superiority: 4, 9, 26, 37, 40

• Exhibitionism: 2, 3, 7, 20, 28, 30, 38

• Exploitativeness: 6, 13, 16, 23, 35

• Vanity: 15, 19, 29

• Entitlement: 5, 14, 18, 24, 25, 27

Share your scores below!

I’ll let you know how I did in the comments after I get a few of your answers back. Since I know I have a natural talent for influencing people, I don’t want to influence you guys (ha ha.)

ALSO – Visitors of JamesGunn.com! – please register for a free membership HERE. We’ll be having lots of upcoming contests on the site, where you can win such things as SLiTHER scripts signed by Nathan Fillion, Elizabeth Banks, Michael Rooker, and Jenna Fischer, among other things. You’ll have to be a member to play, and it will benefit you to be pre-registered.

And, finally, be sure to watch PG PORN: HELPFUL BUS one more time HERE.

See you soon,

James Gunn

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Category: Uncategorized

Tagged: Dr. Drew, Howard Stern, narcissism, narcissist test, Narcissistic Personality Inventory, Pinsky, Robin Quivers

Pingback: Personality scoring self test
http://thedarkpen.tripod.com thedarkpen

I took the same test at:
http://www.helloquizzy.com/tests/the-narcissistic-personality-inventory

And scored a 38.

That’s bad.

Mikepeele

You’re probably an asshole.

http://www.myspace.com/dj_tdub Perfethumas

I think it was a good thing to go back and do this survey again. This time, I put a little more thought in the way the statements were written. I recieved 12 this time around. I still was unable to score a point in superiority, but authority was a big increase along with entitlement and self-sufficiency. It feels as if this is a bit of boost to my confidence level.
SeanGunn

I got a 15, although there were 7 questions to which my best answer would have been “neither”, and I got points on 2 of those (8 & 40). Incidentally, the other questions to which I wanted to answer “neither”, were 7,12,13,28,38. And it annoyed me that many questions had answers that weren’t mutually exclusive. Does that make me a narcissist?
tonicat

27!!!
Respect my authority!
and my total awesomeness!
Yeah.. didn’t score so high on the modest part or the wallflower part…
http://burningparadise.net Kurly

31 here.
quinngq007

Eek! I got a 20. I mostly scored high in authority and self-sufficiency, but also in exploitativeness. That’s a little scary. I just meant that I COULD influence people–it’s not like I go around doing it all the time! I don’t feel that evil…
ema_z

i only got 1! i know i am humble but it makes me look like i got little self esteem…well maybe not the 1 i got was in authority…
http://www.myspace.com/missmadamn Caryl

29 isn’t so bad! I actually wish I had scored higher, but I was being as honest as possible with my answers too – especially ones where it was hard to choose an answer. It was a fun quiz. Thanks for sharing both the quiz, and your score, too!
http://www.jamesgunn.com James Gunn

Well, here are my results, as promised…

Compliments don’t embarrass me. But I am hella embarrassed I scored a fucking 29 on this test!
Fortunately, I’m not the highest of all the folks here. That would be BrittanyLaughsatYou, who I am glad to hear is in therapy, because the girl has major problems. 29, well, that’s not great. But 33 – whew! That’s terrible!

I scored very highly in every category except self-sufficiency and vanity. Vanity, because I’m not an underwear model, and self-sufficiency because I truly see the value of others in my life, need to rely on others at times to get things done, and also because I don’t like to count my chickens before they hatch – I take things one day at the time.

However, I definitely like to be the center of attention. I don’t think I’m obsessed with being so. I can sit back and let someone else take the reigns. But when it comes to a question of merely do I or don’t I, I’d have to say I do.

The questions are pretty transparent and I of course knew I was doing terribly as I took it, but I tried to take it as honestly as possible. In many if not most of the questions I was on the fence between the two answers and just slightly leaned toward the more narcissistic answer.

In the end it’s important to point out that this is a test of narcissism as a general personality trait, not narcissism as in narcissistic personality disorder (though I would assume it’s likely that people that have narcissistic personality disorder score high on this test, the opposite is not necessarily true). SO, the fact that I scored so highly on this test doesn’t mean I’m actually a narcissist… however the fact that I felt the need to post that score here might!!
http://www.myspace.com/Chris_Quartly Chris Quartly

I scored 3 overall…
SaulRobeson

I got a 4. 1 in authority, 1 in entitlement, 1 in self-sufficiency, and 1 in superiority. However, I don’t know my REAL, exact score. I was paranoid that I was swaying my answers because I thought of myself so highly that I would think of myself as “modest”, etc. Anyway, there were 4 that I didn’t really know which, and 3 of them were ones I picked the bad one (to play it safe and not think of myself super great).

On 12, I don’t like having authority, but don’t want to follow orders. On 18, I wasn’t sure (actually, that one was a definite answer too). On 22, I wasn’t sure either. And on 37, I would like a book on myself, but don’t expect one – I also don’t like people prying, but not to the extent of “for any reason”.

Maybe writing this long comment like I actually expect people to care/read this will get me some asshole points.
ccshoes

18. I’m entitled to exhibit my superiority with authority.
Bill Pardys Doppelganger

I got an 8, but then again I got plenty of other things to compensate for the lack of narcissism.
jzord

I got a 22. Not bad considering I would’ve put myself in the 30′s.
Joseph

I guess I’m a little below average overall: I scored 14. Here’s how mine breaks down…

Authority: 5 out of 8 (63%)
Self-Sufficiency: 1 out of 6 (17%)
Superiority: 1 out of 5 (20%)
Exhibitionism: 1 out of 7 (14%)
Exploitativeness: 2 out of 5 (40%)
Vanity: 1 out of 3 (33%)
Entitlement: 3 out of 6 (50%)

I’m soooooo not surprised by the authority one. :)
aprilmayed

I got a 22. Seems a little high…but I was expecting that anyways…heh.

I got all of the “right” answers in entitlement and exploitativeness.
The Critic Wannabe

I got a rock… I mean, a 14. But I scored a zero with Exhibitionism. I guess male stripper just isn’t in the cards for me.
Flounder

I got 3, one in Self Sufficiency, one in Explosiveness, and one in Authoritay.

I guess that means I have Issues, but hey I’m happy with that.
bobrox

ha! I got a 16, strongest in Self Sufficiency and Superiority (I can’t help it if I’m better than most people :p).

The first half of the test I was thinking ‘geez I’m a fucking pussy’. And from 30 onwards I didn’t really find that either answer was suitable. For example,

32.
A. Being an authority doesn’t mean that much to me.
B. People always seem to recognize my authority.

I would have liked a C. Why wont you people listen!!!

33.
A. I would prefer to be a leader.
B. It makes little difference to me whether I am a leader or not.

I would have liked a C. I really don’t want to be a leader thank you.

haha, see? Pussy.
CrystalD

I got a 6 overall. 2 in Self-sufficiency and 2 in Entitlement. Not sure what that means, though a few questions weren’t really easy to answer either way. Like I don’t “like” to look at myself in the mirror, but I do a lot. I’m actually surprised I didn’t score higher in vanity.
LunaChick

I got a 4. I think I need to work on my self esteem. Two of my 4 answers were Authority and one each in Exploitativeness and Entitlement.
Maddy_Bauer

Holy crap! I only got 9! HA!

Some questions I found difficult to answer, though. I love being the centre of attention for sports or filming (I find it hard to not be a director! HA) but when it comes to night outs and parties – that’s just not me! So is that yes or no?!

Also, I hate my appearance and look so when I get compliments on looking good if I’m forced to dress up or “at least try” – I get embarrassed. But people complimenting me on my work or abilities, well that’s just awesome. So how do I answer that?

Maybe the above just makes me weird anyway!
dirtyseven

I got a 6… i’m so ashamed!
lhbach

I scored a 22, highest in exploitativeness (since when is telling a good story exploitative?), authority, and self-sufficiency.
Michelle

I scored a 7, which seems about right. I tend to let people walk all over me, but I’ve been working on becoming more assertive. I was probably a 3 a couple of years ago.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=624441277 Mike Meitner

hmmm, 25 for me, too bad I’m not famous to go with my inflated sense of self worth.
• Authority: 5/8 = 62%
• Self-sufficiency: 3/6 = 50%
• Superiority: 4/5 = 80%
• Exhibitionism: 4/7 = 57%
• Exploitativeness: 5/5 = 100% (ability to manipulate ? Exploitativeness imo, Dr. Drew is an idiot :)
• Vanity: 2/3 = 66%
• Entitlement: 2/6 = 33%
littlebitocd

I got a 16. Mostly in authority & superiority. I should be the boss because I am better.

Not surprised Robin Quivers got such a high score. You hang around a lot of those people, you’re bound to start thinking you’re a pretty impressive human being.
Perfethumas

I got an eight. I scored each trait except superiority, if anything I am a bit of an authoritive, exhibitionist. Christ, I going to be freak.
JohnyWalkerBlak

I got a 21. 6 for Authority and 5 for self-sufficient 0 for exhibitionism though, I must be uptight.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1245066055 Heidi Johnson

I got a whopping 7 points. Not surprised…I’m a meek fucker! I’ve always said I’d be the most polite & acquiescent murder-victim…
LesleyHayes4

I got a 5. Exploitativeness and Vanity were tied with 2 points each, and the 5th point went to superiority. No idea why. Let’s just say I have my moments, but that’s all they are. Moments.
http://www.myspace.com/missmadamn Caryl

I only scored 8: Authority, 5; Self-sufficiency, 2; Superiority, 1

Seems rather low, even though there isn’t supposed to be right/wrong or good/bad answers or outcomes. I attribute my outcome to my low self-esteem, as of late. Highest in Authority makes sense, being a Mother and in charge at my company.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=775838202 Ben Newton

I got 18, mostly in self-sufficiency and superiority.
http://www.riggedthefilm.com indesignkat

oops.. and 2 self-sufficiency
http://www.riggedthefilm.com indesignkat

Guess I’m fairly normal, I got a 15. 5 authority, 3 superiority, 3 entitlement (who doesn’t think they could run the world better?), 2 exploitativeness, 0 exhibitionism (big fan of it in others, though), 0 vanity
mrsoz

I scored a 2 :/
SNB

I scored a 1. Not sure if this is good or bad.
champ3000

I scored a 7, in authority and self-sufficiency. Seems about right to me…
JCinPBC

I scored 20, mostly in authority, superiority and self-sufficient. Yea, that’s me – an independent beyotch!
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=643693986 Tori Weber

Did you score higher than Robin Quivers?

I got a 5. I need to work on being a more assertive person. I’m surprised anyone even notices when I am in the room!
RangerDanger

I scored a 10, and apparently have a superiority complex…
val2201

I got a 17 which kind of made me feel douchy, but come on…who doesn’t like to look at their own body?!
http://joannavaught.com joanna

i got a 7. but if i had taken this in high school, i probably would have scored higher than quivers. you’re supposed to grow out of thinking that you’re hot shit but i guess a lot of people don’t. sad.
briangunn

17, which means I’m more of a narcissist than Dr. Drew. I scored 4 out of 5 on exploitativeness, mostly b/c I feel like I tell good stories and apparently I have high regard for my ability to talk my way out of trouble.
http://twitter.com/LuckyAmeliza sooo_yeah

yeah, I got a 16, blah. LOL! though I’m not quite sure how to handle 4 of my answers showing signs of exhibitionism O_o? I’m surprised that it wasn’t higher, becuase one of the signs/symptoms of ADHD is an intense need to be the center of attention. but I think my low self esteem balances it out. haha, wow I shouldn’t be laughing at that, but I am.
http://tunaeverynight.livejournal.com tunaeverynight

I got a 14, which means my personality trait is “entitlement”. Did the book offer any insight as to what this might mean?
BrittanyLaughsAtYou

I scored a 33…which means seeing a therapist twice a week is really working for me!
http://www.twitter.com/glitterbubbles Jules

@gholston if it makes you feel better, i scored a zero….
xo
http://filmcans.wordpress.com gholson

I scored a five. That makes me seem like I have self-esteem issues. :\

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