You may have already seen this meme: an image of concentric circles with the catchy title: « The number of circles you see determines if you are a narcissist. » Intriguing, isn’t it? We look, we count… and we wonder: am I normal? Narcissistic? Or is it just another internet joke?
Spoiler alert: this meme reveals more about our curiosity than our personality. But it does spark an interesting discussion—about the links between optical illusions, popular psychology, and self-fascination.
Optical illusions: when our brain plays tricks on us
An optical illusion is like a visual puzzle: what we perceive isn’t always reality. Our brain uses shortcuts to save time. The result: we interpret shapes, shadows, and colors according to our own perceptual filters.
However, the number of circles in an image says nothing about our personality. It depends on many factors: our level of attention, the screen brightness, and even the size of the device. There’s nothing here that our ego can judge.
Why is this meme so popular?
This visual illusion combines all the ingredients of viral content:
You can check it in a flash.
Promises self-revelation (narcissism, a delicate and fascinating subject).
It’s easy to share (« How many circles do you see? »).
However, behind this playful facade, we must remember what is most important: just because a meme states something does not make it a scientific truth.
What exactly is narcissism?
The word « narcissistic » is often used colloquially: when someone posts a lot of selfies or talks too much about themselves. In psychology, pathological narcissism is a well-defined disorder characterized by:
See more on the next page
Advertisement
