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NARCISSISTIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY (NPI) (SELECTED ITEMS)

"The test consists of forty pairs of statements. For each pair the participants are asked to select the one that they feel best reflects their personality." (Tamás Bereczkei, Machiavellianism: The Psychology of Manipulation, p. 46)

1.a I have a natural talent for influencing people.
1.b I am not good at influencing people.

2.a Modesty doesn’t become me.
2.b I am essentially a modest person.

3.a I would do almost anything on a dare.
3.b I tend to be a fairly cautious person.

4.a When people compliment me, I sometimes get embarrassed.
4.b I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so.

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

6.a I can usually talk my way out of anything.
6.b I try to accept the consequences of my behaviour.

7.a I prefer to blend in with the crowd.
7.b I like to be the center of attention.

8.a I will be a success.
8.b I am not too concerned about success.

9.a I am no better or worse than most people.
9.b I think I am a special person.

10.a I am not sure if I would make a good leader.
10.b I see myself as a good leader.

11.a I am assertive.
11.b I wish I were more assertive.

12.a I like to have authority over other people.
12.b I don’t mind following orders.

Pullman's note. As the author points out, these 12 are just a selection of the inventory. Thus it is just an illustration, not a valid instrument. I don't know what kind of waiting each item has, so even if this list were complete, I wouldn't know how to score it. Moreover, I'm not a pscyhologist. Nevertheless, by this toy's estimation, if you score a 12, you are a narcissist. If you score 0 you are a willing servant. Likely you are somewhere in between, though as a budding academic, you should be north of 6.