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Covert Narcissism Test
In recent years, the distinction between overt and covert narcissism has become accepted in personality and social psychological research. The distinction between overt and covert narcissism is based on the two facets of maladaptive narcissism identified by psychologist Paul M. Wink as Grandiosity-Exhibitionism (overt) and Vulnerability-Sensitivity (covert). This test explores subclinical personality features related to the vulnerable and sensitive narcissistic style, also known as covert narcissism.
What is your covert narcissism score? For each of the following questions, indicate how well it describes you below.
Question 1 of 23
My feelings are easily hurt by ridicule or by the slighting remarks of others.
| Disagree | Agree |
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The IDRlabs Covert Narcissism Test is based on the Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale authored by Jonathan M. Cheek, Holly M. Hendin, and Paul M. Wink. IDRlabs is not affiliated with the mentioned researchers or their institutions.
The test provides feedback such as the following: Your score represents a result reflecting extremely high covert narcissism in relation to traits associated with vulnerable self-esteem and covert narcissism. Your score is extremely elevated compared to the population average. Depending on your individual response to each question, this result may reflect introversion or traits related to sensitivity or anxiety. There are certain overlaps among the Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale and other instruments that measure introversion and sensitivity.
Traits or symptoms experienced in association with vulnerable self-esteem related to covert narcissism may present as increased need for external validation, attention, and admiration; high introversion; high anxiety; hypersensitivity toward perceived criticism, humiliation, neglect, or belittlement; shamefulness and delusions of persecution; strong envy and a tendency to be judgmental; low self-confidence and high defensiveness along with social awkwardness; shyness; emotional dysregulation; a tendency toward interpersonal conflict and antagonistic behavior, and an altruistic, humble self-presentation. A higher score may reflect more severe traits related to covert-vulnerable narcissism.
The MCNS (Cheek, Hendin & Wink 2013) is an expansion of the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS; Hendin & Cheek 1997) in which Hendin and Cheek correlated items from the Narcissism Scale (Murray, 1938) with a composite of the two MMPI-based measures of covert narcissism used in Wink’s research. The first 10 items on the expanded MCNS test are similar to the items of the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS, 1997), and the following 13 items are added with the scale expansion (MCNS, 2013) for a total of 23 items that measure vulnerable self-esteem.
The MCNS is designed to measure subclinical traits related to vulnerable self-esteem and covert narcissism as proposed by Wink in his related body of research into vulnerable narcissism. The MCNS cannot be used as an instrument to diagnose a personality disorder, nor should it be confused with an instrument measuring psychopathology in a clinical or psychiatric context. A psychological evaluation should be performed in cooperation with a mental health professional.
The authors of this online personality test are certified in the use of multiple personality tests and have worked professionally with typology and personality testing. The results of our online quiz (or personality test) are provided "as-is" and should not be construed as providing professional or certified advice of any kind. For more on our online personality test, please consult our Terms of Service.
Why Use This Test?
1. Free. The Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale is provided to you free of charge and allows you to obtain your scores related to areas of vulnerable self-esteem and covert narcissism.
2. Scholarly oriented. Feedback derived from this test is based on the research of psychologists in the field of vulnerable covert narcissism, with the intent of delivering a clear picture of the respondent’s characteristics indicating vulnerable self-esteem as measured according to standardized items in a self-report questionnaire format.
3. Acceptable validity and reliability. According to a sample survey of 420 adults, the Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale improves reliability when compared to the Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale, with an alpha reliability of .89 for MCNS compared to an alpha reliability of .75 for the HSNS. In a second sample of 182 college women, the MCNS had an alpha reliability of .85 and a correlation of .66 with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory measure related to vulnerable narcissism. This indicates a significant improvement in the assessment of subclinical maladaptive covert-vulnerable narcissism.
4. Statistical controls. Test scores are logged into an anonymized database. Statistical analysis of the test is conducted to ensure maximum accuracy and validity of the test scores.
5. Made by professionals. The present test has been made with the input of people who work professionally with psychology and individual differences research.