At first glance, the image looks simple: a colorful arrangement of square blocks stacked neatly together.
The caption reads, “Most People Are Narcissists… Count the Squares.” It feels like a playful brain teaser — count the visible squares and see what number you get. But beneath the surface, this visual puzzle reveals something deeper about perception, attention, and even ego.
So how many squares do you see?
Some people answer quickly. They count only the obvious top-facing squares. Others look more carefully and include the front-facing ones. A few examine the edges and notice hidden overlaps. The number varies depending on how deeply someone observes.
And that’s where the real message begins.
The Psychology Behind What We See
Human perception is selective. Our brains are wired to process information quickly and efficiently. In doing so, we often focus only on what’s most obvious — the surfaces directly in front of us. We assume what we see is complete.
This tendency is closely tied to something psychologists call cognitive bias. We trust our first impression. We believe our interpretation is correct. And when someone else gives a different answer, we may dismiss it instead of reconsidering.
In many ways, that’s where the connection to narcissism comes in.
The “I’m Right” Reflex
The word “narcissist” is often used casually today. Clinically, narcissism refers to an inflated sense of self-importance, a deep need for admiration, and difficulty empathizing with others. But in everyday life, mild narcissistic traits appear in small, subtle ways.
For example, when someone counts the squares and confidently declares, “There are 8,” they might feel certain they’re correct. If another person says, “Actually, there are 12,” the immediate reaction may not be curiosity — it may be defensiveness.
