3 Tests That Reveal A Narcissist’s True Colors, According To An Expert

The Red Herring Test.

Thought Catalog
3 min readDec 19, 2023
charry jin

By Shahida Arabi

There are many ways to figure out whether someone has narcissistic tendencies and traits. Here are the three biggest “tests” you can use to reveal a narcissist’s true colors, according to a researcher.

The Red Herring Test.

A narcissistic person lacks empathy and is willing to use whatever vulnerability they sense you have against you in order to exploit you. If you throw out a “red herring,” a false clue as to what triggers, fears, or wounds you may have, no matter how big or small, you will find that the narcissist will deliberately use this against you. For example, you may be very confident about your figure, but if you tell someone you suspect is toxic that you are insecure about it, you can bet that they will suddenly start to pick at your weight. With the red herring test, you can compel the narcissist to reveal themselves and their true nature early on so you can exit the relationship safely.

The Envy and Covert Sabotage Test.

Narcissists are pathologically envious of anyone with talents, achievements, beauty, personality traits, or popularity that surpasses theirs. Research supports that they have…

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