Think you can count every square in this viral brain teaser? Take a close look at the puzzle, count the small and larger squares, and discover why the answer may surprise you.
Have you seen the viral image asking:
“Most People Are Narcissists… Count the Squares.”
At first glance, the challenge looks incredibly simple. You just have to look at the shape and count the squares.
But there is a catch.
Many people count only the small, obvious squares and stop there. Others count the larger squares created by combining several smaller sections. That’s where the puzzle becomes much more interesting.
So, how many squares are actually hidden in the picture?
The commonly intended answer is:
13 Squares
Let’s break it down carefully.
First, Don’t Count the Rectangles
This is the most important rule.
The picture contains several enclosed shapes that look similar to squares, but their width and height are different.
A rectangle is not a square.
A square must have four equal sides, at least conceptually in the intended geometric layout.
That’s why simply counting every enclosed box can give you a much higher number.
Step 1: Find the 6 Small Squares
Start with the smallest obvious squares.
There are 6 individual small squares in the design.
These are the little enclosed areas that are closest to being the basic building blocks of the puzzle.
So our first count is:
6 small squares
But we’re not finished.
Step 2: Look for Larger Squares
Now forget the individual boxes for a moment.
Look at how some of the smaller sections join together.
Several adjacent sections can create a larger square even though that larger square isn’t immediately obvious.
This is where many people make their first mistake.
They count only the individual boxes and assume the answer is 6.
But a square can be made from multiple smaller sections.
Step 3: Count the 5 Medium Squares
By combining neighboring sections, you can identify 5 larger 2×2-style squares.
These squares use several of the smaller sections as their internal structure.
That gives us:
6 small squares + 5 medium squares = 11
We’re getting closer, but there are still two larger squares to find.
Step 4: Find the Larger Square
There is another square formed by combining several sections in the lower portion of the design.
This is larger than the medium squares we just counted.
Add that one:
11 + 1 = 12
And finally, the entire outer structure forms the largest square in the puzzle.
Add one more:
12 + 1 = 13
Final Answer: 13 Squares
So the complete count is:
- 6 small squares
- 5 medium-sized squares
- 1 larger square
- 1 largest outer square
6 + 5 + 1 + 1 = 13
Therefore, the answer most commonly intended by this puzzle is:
13 SQUARES
Why Did Some People Get 6?
Because there are 6 obvious individual squares.
If someone says “I only see 6,” they aren’t necessarily failing to see the image. They’re simply counting the smallest individual squares rather than considering squares formed by combining sections.
That’s what makes this puzzle tricky.
The instruction doesn’t simply ask:
“How many small squares are there?”
It asks:
“How many squares can you spot?”
That means larger squares need to be considered too.
Why Do Some People Say 12, 16, or 17?
This puzzle has generated different answers because people use different counting rules.
Some count only clearly enclosed individual shapes.
Others count larger combinations.
Some even count shapes that are technically rectangles because they look approximately square from the photograph.
That’s why you may see people arguing about the answer.
The safest mathematical approach is to establish one rule before counting:
Count every complete square formed by the visible lines, but do not count rectangles.
Using that approach, the intended puzzle answer is 13.
Does the Puzzle Really Prove That Someone Is a Narcissist?
No.
The phrase “Most People Are Narcissists” is attention-grabbing puzzle language. Getting the answer wrong—or giving the first answer that comes to mind—does not mean someone has narcissistic personality disorder.
At most, the puzzle can demonstrate how quickly people make assumptions.
For example, someone may look at the image and immediately say:
“6!”
Then, after looking again, they notice larger squares.
That isn’t evidence of narcissism. It’s simply an example of how visual puzzles can encourage people to make a quick first judgment.
The Real Trick Behind the Puzzle
The clever part isn’t really the word “narcissist.”
The real trick is how you look at the image.
Your eyes naturally notice the smallest enclosed shapes first. Once you’ve counted them, your brain may feel that the job is finished.
But puzzle-solving requires a second step:
Look at the relationships between the shapes.
Ask yourself:
- Can two neighboring sections form a larger square?
- Can four smaller sections form another square?
- Does the outer boundary form a square?
- Am I accidentally counting rectangles?
- Have I counted the same square twice?
These questions help prevent mistakes.
A Simple Strategy for Solving Similar Puzzles
Whenever you see a “count the squares” puzzle, use this method.
1. Count the smallest squares
Start with the individual squares.
2. Mark them mentally
Don’t count the same section twice.
3. Look for 2×2 combinations
See whether four smaller sections create a larger square.
4. Search for even larger combinations
Look at the entire arrangement instead of individual boxes.
5. Check the outer border
The biggest square is often easy to overlook because it surrounds everything else.
6. Exclude rectangles
This is essential.
A shape that is longer in one direction than the other isn’t a square simply because it is enclosed.
Final Verdict
If you counted 6, you spotted the six obvious individual squares.
But if you count the larger squares formed by combining sections as well, the puzzle reaches the commonly intended answer of:
13 SQUARES
So before you proudly announce your first answer, take another look.
Did you count the larger squares too?