In the endless scroll of social media—filled with memes, trends, and viral posts—few things capture attention quite like the so-called “personality tests.”

These quick visuals promise deep insights in seconds, offering entertainment and a glimpse of self-reflection all at once.

One of the latest examples is an image featuring overlapping circles and a bold claim: “The number of circles you see reveals if you’re a narcissist.”

The test quickly spread across platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram, with users comparing their answers and debating what the results might mean.

Maybe you paused to count the circles, curious about what it could say about you. Or perhaps you shared it with friends to see how their interpretations stacked up against yours. Whatever your reaction, the test taps into something universal—our fascination with understanding ourselves.

Psychologists say this appeal isn’t new. Humans have always been drawn to tools that promise self-knowledge, from ancient astrology to modern personality quizzes. They offer a sense of control and insight in an often chaotic world.

However, experts caution that viral tests like these are rarely scientific. They rely more on clever design and suggestive wording than actual psychological research. Still, their popularity reveals how eager people are to explore identity in playful, accessible ways.

The “circle test” in particular works because it engages both perception and personality—it’s a puzzle and a mirror at the same time.

Whether or not it truly measures narcissism, it certainly measures curiosity. Each share, like, and comment becomes part of a global conversation about who we are and how we see the world.

In the end, that may be the real magic of these viral illusions: they remind us that self-discovery—even through a simple image—never stops being intriguing.