In the sea of social media, few things spread faster than viral “personality tests.” One recent example claims: *“The Number of Circles You See Determines If You’re a Narcissist.”* The meme features concentric circles and promises insight into your personality based on how many you count. It’s catchy, but not scientific.

*“Ultimately, we will see that the meme in question is more entertainment than fact.”* Optical illusions, like this one, trick our brain’s interpretation of what we see—but they don’t diagnose personality disorders. While illusions like the duck-rabbit or grid illusion reveal quirks in perception, they don’t reflect traits like narcissism.

Narcissism itself is complex. Clinically, it includes traits like *“a grandiose sense of self-importance”* and *“a lack of empathy.”* In everyday use, though, it’s often confused with vanity or self-focus. The meme simplifies this rich psychological concept down to a glance.

So why do we believe it? *“The idea that we can learn something important about ourselves in mere seconds is alluring.”* But these quick quizzes often play on our curiosity, cognitive biases, and love for self-discovery—not science. Fun? Sure. Factual? Not really.