It always begins quietly—an oddly confident remark, a strangely intense reaction, a moment where someone’s charm lands just a little too perfectly.
You shake it off, convince yourself you’re overthinking, and move on. But psychologists warn that these small, almost invisible cues can be early signs of something deeper.
And what’s even more surprising? A single, disarmingly simple question may be enough to reveal whether someone is hiding narcissistic tendencies beneath a charismatic surface.
Meeting new people is one of the great variables of life—each person brings their own energy, their own worldview, their own rhythm. Some feel instantly familiar; others unsettle us without explanation.
But among all the personalities we encounter, one type tends to leave the deepest impact—and not always in a good way: the narcissist. According to a leading criminal psychologist, there is actually one direct question that can expose them far more clearly than you might expect.
Most of us have heard the word “narcissist” tossed around, whether during a heated conversation or whispered in frustration. But true narcissism isn’t just confidence or self-love taken too far.
The Mayo Clinic describes narcissistic personality disorder as a mental health condition marked by an “inflated sense of self-importance,” a hunger for admiration, and a chronic need for external validation. People with strong narcissistic traits may project boldness, but they often lack empathy and crumble under criticism—even though they rarely show it.
While certain red flags can hint at narcissism, identifying it in real time isn’t always straightforward.
But in a recent conversation with LADbible, psychologist Dr. Julia Shaw—38, and host of Murder in Mind—explained that the process may actually be remarkably simple. She says there is one question, backed by research, that can reveal everything.
“Narcissist… people love this word right now,” Shaw noted in a LADbible Stories video.
She explained that while anyone can display occasional narcissistic behavior, a targeted question can help pinpoint those who genuinely lean in that direction. Psychologists once used lengthy questionnaires—20 questions, refinished down to 15—to measure narcissism. But Shaw says a single item, known as the Single-Item Narcissism Scale, captures the core of it.
“And the question is: ‘Are you a narcissist?’” she said plainly.
It sounds almost too bold to work, but Shaw says the directness is the secret.
“How do you spot a narcissist? Just ask,” she continued. “A true narcissist will often say something like, ‘Yeah, but I’m better than most people. That’s just how it is.’ That’s narcissism in a nutshell—an inflated sense of superiority.”
She added that narcissists rarely find the question offensive.
A 2014 study from Ohio State University backs this up. Researchers found that asking people one simple question—“How narcissistic are you?”—produces surprisingly accurate assessments of narcissistic traits.
“People with narcissistic tendencies are often proud of it,” study co-author Brad Bushman said at the time. “They don’t see narcissism as a flaw. They genuinely believe they’re above others.”
🔹 Conclusion
Narcissism is layered, complicated, and often difficult to identify. Yet experts argue that the clearest path may be the most direct one. A single bold question cuts through mixed signals and subtle behaviors, revealing the truth far faster than you’d expect. It may feel confrontational—but for those who genuinely believe they stand above everyone else, admitting it often comes with ease.