A viral image of seven egg yolks arranged on a plate claims that the number of circles you see can reveal narcissistic traits. At first, the answer seems obvious: seven yolks, seven circles. But as you look longer, perception begins to shift. You may notice the plate, the empty space in the center, or even smaller details—revealing that the puzzle isn’t about eyesight, but attention.
This kind of visual test playfully reflects cognitive style, not personality disorders. Seeing only the yolks suggests a practical, object-focused mindset. Including the plate points to contextual thinking. Noticing the empty center reflects pattern recognition and intuition. Seeing even more circles suggests a highly analytical eye for detail. Seeing fewer may simply mean fatigue or disinterest.
Despite the headline, this image cannot diagnose narcissism. True narcissistic personality disorder is complex and clinically assessed—not revealed by a breakfast plate. What the image really shows is how differently people allocate attention and interpret the same information.
The real insight lies in the pause itself. By stopping to look again and considering alternate interpretations, you demonstrate cognitive flexibility—the opposite of narcissism. The circles aren’t a test; they’re a reminder that perception varies, and meaning often depends on how closely we choose to look
