An Inkblot Quiz on Psychopathy and Narcissism, and What It Cannot Show

Being a sociopath is a serious matter. To some, they’re sexy and interesting. They tend to take big risks and come off as bold and exciting. They tend to be the heart of the party and are natural born leaders. (Correction: these are popular stereotypes, not findings. “Sociopath” is an everyday word rather than a clinical diagnosis; the NHS describes antisocial personality disorder, and no trait list or online quiz can identify it.)

But there’s a downside to being a sociopath. They often feel little sympathy, empathy, or guilt. They tend to be absolutely cut throat and have little regard for the feelings of others. Many psychologists believe that sociopaths can fall just about anywhere on an “Antisocial Personality Disorder” spectrum.

Are you a self-obsessed narcissist or a creepy psychopath? Maybe both? Or neither? Let's find out!

Quiz: What Do You Know About Inkblots, Narcissism and Psychopathy?

Instead of pretending an inkblot can label you, this quiz tests what you know about the famous Rorschach test and the terms people often use loosely.

Who created the best-known inkblot test?
The Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach developed the test that carries his name.
In which year did Rorschach publish his book 'Psychodiagnostik', introducing the test?
Psychodiagnostik appeared in 1921, shortly before Rorschach's death in 1922.
How many inkblot cards make up the standard Rorschach set?
The standard set has ten cards.
Of the ten standard cards, how many are printed only in black and grey?
Five cards are black and grey, two add red, and three are multicoloured.
The word 'narcissism' comes from a Greek myth about a young man who…
Narcissus fell in love with his reflection in a pool of water.
Seeing faces or familiar shapes in random patterns, like clouds or inkblots, is called…
Pareidolia is the brain's habit of finding meaningful shapes in random images.
The 'Dark Triad' is a research term for narcissism, psychopathy and…
The Dark Triad groups narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy as related personality traits.
Which assessment tool, developed by Robert Hare, is widely used by trained professionals to assess psychopathy?
Hare's PCL-R is a structured clinical rating scale, not a self-test or online quiz.
Which of these is a formal diagnosis described by the NHS?
'Sociopath' is an everyday word; antisocial personality disorder is the clinical diagnosis.
A meta-analysis of Rorschach studies in forensic settings found that its scores…
The authors concluded the findings contradict the view that the Rorschach is clinically sensitive for this purpose.

Just getting started

Inkblots and personality labels are full of myths. Have a look at the explanations; they are more interesting than any label.

Well informed

You know a fair bit about the Rorschach test and the psychology behind these terms.

Sharp-eyed sceptic

You know the history and the limits of inkblot tests. Very few people can say that.

Perfect score

Ten out of ten. You know exactly why a picture quiz cannot diagnose anyone, and that is the most useful answer of all.

What an inkblot quiz can and cannot tell you

The quiz below is for entertainment. Its result describes how you answered a handful of picture questions, not your personality, and it cannot show whether anyone is a psychopath or a narcissist. Even the classic Rorschach inkblot test, used by trained clinicians, performs poorly at this: a meta-analysis of studies in forensic settings found that Rorschach scores did not reliably separate psychopathic from non-psychopathic offenders, and its authors wrote that the findings “contradict the view that the Rorschach is a clinically sensitive instrument” for this purpose.

Concerns about your own behaviour, or someone else’s, are better taken to a GP or a mental health professional, who can assess them properly. The quiz widget is a third-party embed from 2016 and may no longer load.

Sources: Science.gov record: Validity of Rorschach inkblot scores for discriminating psychopaths from nonpsychopaths in forensic populations: a meta-analysis NHS: Antisocial personality disorder

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