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Narcissistic Deficiency Screening Questionnaire

Narcissistic Deficiency Screening Questionnaire Test

Understand whether insecurity and harsh self-criticism hide behind a confident image in about 8 minutes. Get clear, practical insights to guide next steps for self-work or therapy conversations.

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Questions: 438 minutes

Hi! My name is Freudly, i am an AI therapist, I will give you an interpretation of the test after you complete it.

08:30

October 2, 2025

October 2, 2025
Material has been updated

October 2, 2025
Material has been published

20,209 views

2,495 completions

1,995 likes

Verified by Daniel Hall

Psychologist with 25 years of experience

Scale Explorer

How the Scales are Structured

example score

10/13

Mental Attitudes (MA)

Measures mental attitudes related to self-esteem, internal demands, and how you interpret success and mistakes.

Self-critical standards

Balanced standards

Confident mindset

0 – 4: Self-critical standards | 5 – 9: Balanced standards | 10 – 13: Confident mindset

A score of 10 falls in the Confident mindset range, suggesting generally stable self-evaluation and less tendency toward harsh self-criticism under pressure.

example score

4/10

Interpersonal Relations (IR)

Measures how comfortably a person builds relationships and how strongly they rely on others' approval in interpersonal interactions.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 3: Low | 4 – 6: Moderate | 7 – 10: High

A score of 4 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting generally workable relationships with some sensitivity to evaluation or uncertainty in closeness.

example score

8/20

Self-Esteem (SE)

Measures satisfaction with oneself and the perceived sense of personal worth versus self-criticism.

Low self-esteem

Moderate self-esteem

High self-esteem

0 – 9: Low self-esteem | 10 – 15: Moderate self-esteem | 16 – 20: High self-esteem

A score of 8 falls in the Low self-esteem range, suggesting reduced self-acceptance and a stronger tendency toward self-criticism and inner insecurity.

example score

23/43

Deficit Narcissism Scale (DNS)

Measures the degree of deficient narcissism expressed as chronic self-dissatisfaction, feelings of unworthiness, and harsh self-demands that may be masked by a confident facade.

Low

Moderate

High

0 – 14: Low | 15 – 29: Moderate | 30 – 43: High

A score of 23 falls in the Moderate range, suggesting a noticeable tendency toward self-criticism and feeling “not good enough,” with pressure to meet very high internal standards.

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DATA-BASED USER COHORTS

Who Usually Takes This Test?

High-achieving self-critics

41%OF USERS

People who look competent and driven but privately feel never good enough, obsess over mistakes, and push themselves to exhaustion.

People-pleasers with a strong face

34%OF USERS

Those who try to be unfailingly kind, reliable, and composed while hiding insecurity and fearing rejection or disappointment.

Therapy-minded self-explorers

25%OF USERS

People who want a quick, structured self-check to understand their inner contradictions and decide what to work on next, alone or with a psychologist.

BASED ON AGGREGATED, ANONYMIZED DATA FROM TENS OF THOUSANDS OF FREUDLY USERS.

RESULTS YOU CAN ACTUALLY USE

Scale Results
— Explained Clearly

Your scores across each test scale are translated into plain, usable insights. You won’t just get numbers — you’ll learn how your results impact your daily life, emotional state, and overall well-being.

AI-Powered
Interpretation

You’ll receive a structured, clinically-grounded explanation. Our AI analyzes patterns and relationships between scales to provide a coherent interpretation, without exaggerated language.

Statistical
Comparison

See how your results compare to others. Anonymized platform data is used to create a percentile scale, which identifies whether your results are typical.

Practical
Recommendations

You’ll receive clear, actionable guidance tailored to your profile. These easy-to-implement suggestions focus on coping, self-regulation, and realistic next steps.

AI-Powered
Insights

Get insights on behavioral and thought patterns you might not notice on your own. By uncovering subtle connections between your responses, you’ll better understand what may be driving your current results.

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an AI Therapist

Clarify, reflect, and explore your results right away. Talk through your experience, ask questions, and explore meanings in a calm, non-diagnostic dialogue.

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Used in 52+ countries

Benchmarking

See How You Compare

Once you complete the test, your results are compared with real-world data from people in your country.
Below is a preview of how scores are typically distributed across each scale.

Mental Mindsets (MM)

Average

6.4

Normal range

4.2 — 8.6

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Relationships with People (RwP)

Average

6.8

Normal range

5.4 — 8.1

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Self-esteem (S)

Average

14.7

Normal range

11.5 — 17.9

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

Deficient Narcissism Scale (DNS)

Average

16.9

Normal range

10.5 — 23.3

min.

max.

Majority

This curve shows how scores are typically distributed.
Once you complete the test, your result will appear on the scale so you can see how you compare.

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CLEAR ANSWERS TO COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this questionnaire measure?

It screens for a pattern of self-doubt, harsh self-criticism, and exhaustion that may be hidden behind a controlled, confident presentation. It highlights tension between the need to appear strong and the need to be flawless.

Who is this questionnaire intended for?

It is intended for adults who want a structured self-check of perfectionism, shame, and self-evaluative habits. It can also support discussion in psychological counseling or psychotherapy.

How should responses be completed?

Answer all items based on typical feelings and behavior rather than isolated events. Respond as accurately as possible without overanalyzing individual questions.

How long does it take and how many items are included?

Estimated completion time is about 8 minutes. The questionnaire includes 43 items.

How should results be interpreted?

Results indicate the likelihood and intensity of the described tendencies and are not a clinical diagnosis. Elevated scores may suggest areas for focused self-work or for review with a qualified mental health professional.

WHAT THE TEST MEASURES

About This Assessment

Questionnaire for Detecting Narcissistic Deficiency Test

Narcissistic Deficiency Screening Questionnaire Test - Symptoms and Signs

narcissism

This self-report instrument is designed to screen for traits commonly associated with vulnerable or deficit-oriented narcissistic functioning. The Narcissistic Deficiency Screening Questionnaire uses structured items to assess self-evaluative concerns, sensitivity to perceived shortcomings, and internal strain related to high personal standards.

The measure includes 43 items and typically takes about 8 minutes to complete. Responses are intended to support initial case formulation and to guide follow-up clinical interviewing rather than to establish a diagnosis. Although it is sometimes attributed to Heinz Kohut, the Narcissistic Deficiency Screening Questionnaire should be interpreted within the broader clinical context, including current symptoms, functional impairment, and relevant developmental and interpersonal history.

Author: Heinz Kohut

Literature: Pincus, A. L., & Lukowitsky, M. R. Pathological narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology. 2010.; Ronningstam, E. Narcissistic personality disorder: A clinical perspective. Journal of Psychiatric Practice. 2011.

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