Instrument Title: The NPI-16 Subclinical narcissism
Instrument Author: Ames, D. R., Rose, P., and Anderson, C. P.
Cite instrument as: Ames, D. R., Rose, P., and Anderson, C. P.. (2013) .
The NPI-16 Subclinical narcissism . Measurement
Instrument Database for the Social Science.
Retrieved from www.midss.ie
Read each pair of statements below and place an “X” by the one that comes closest to
describing your feelings and beliefs about yourself. You may feel that neither statement
describes you well, but pick the one that comes closest. Please complete all pairs.
1. ___ I really like to be the center of attention
___ It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention
2. ___ I am no better or no worse than most people
___ I think I am a special person
3. ___ Everybody likes to hear my stories
___ Sometimes I tell good stories
4. ___ I usually get the respect that I deserve
___ I insist upon getting the respect that is due me
5. ___ I don't mind following orders
___ I like having authority over people
6. ___ I am going to be a great person
___ I hope I am going to be successful
7. ___ People sometimes believe what I tell them
___ I can make anybody believe anything I want them to
8. ___ I expect a great deal from other people
___ I like to do things for other people
9. ___ I like to be the center of attention
___ I prefer to blend in with the crowd
10. ___ I am much like everybody else
___ I am an extraordinary person
11. ___ I always know what I am doing
___ Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing
12. ___ I don't like it when I find myself manipulating people
___ I find it easy to manipulate people
13. ___ Being an authority doesn't mean that much to me
___ People always seem to recognize my authority
14. ___ I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so
___ When people compliment me I sometimes get embarrassed
15. ___ I try not to be a show off
___ I am apt to show off if I get the chance
16. ___ I am more capable than other people
___ There is a lot that I can learn from other people
NPI-16 Key: Responses consistent with narcissism are shown in bold.
1. ___ I really like to be the center of attention
___ It makes me uncomfortable to be the center of attention
2. ___ I am no better or nor worse than most people
___ I think I am a special person
3. ___ Everybody likes to hear my stories
___ Sometimes I tell good stories
4. ___ I usually get the respect that I deserve
___ I insist upon getting the respect that is due me
5. ___ I don't mind following orders
___ I like having authority over people
6. ___ I am going to be a great person
___ I hope I am going to be successful
7. ___ People sometimes believe what I tell them
___ I can make anybody believe anything I want them to
8. ___ I expect a great deal from other people
___ I like to do things for other people
9. ___ I like to be the center of attention
___ I prefer to blend in with the crowd
10. ___ I am much like everybody else
___ I am an extraordinary person
11. ___ I always know what I am doing
___ Sometimes I am not sure of what I am doing
12. ___ I don't like it when I find myself manipulating people
___ I find it easy to manipulate people
13. ___ Being an authority doesn't mean that much to me
___ People always seem to recognize my authority
14. ___ I know that I am good because everybody keeps telling me so
___ When people compliment me I sometimes get embarrassed
15. ___ I try not to be a show off
___ I am apt to show off if I get the chance
16. ___ I am more capable than other people
___ There is a lot that I can learn from other people
Scoring: compute proportion of responses consistent with narcissism.
Background: The NPI-16 items are drawn from across the dimensions of Raskin and
Terry’s (1988) 40-item measure. Relevant references are noted below.
Ames, Daniel R., Rose, Paul, and Anderson, Cameron P. (2006). The NPI-16 as a short
measure of narcissism. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 440-450.
Raskin, R., & Terry, H. (1988). A principal-components analysis of the Narcissistic
Personality Inventory and further evidence of its construct validity. Journal of
Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 890–902.
