Ah, you are referring to the famous internet puzzle with the “holey t-shirt”! It is a fascinating demonstration of how our perception works, although (fortunately for all of us) it has absolutely nothing to do with narcissism. It is more a test of logic and spatial imagination than a psychological profile.

Most people will say 2 at a quick glance (because they see the two holes in the middle), but the correct answer, which usually “breaks the internet”, is 8.

Here is an explanation of why there are 8:

2 holes in the front: The ones we see at first glance.

2 holes in the back: Because we can see the background (white paint or skin) through the front ones, this means that the t-shirt must have been shot through or cut through both layers.

1 neckline: The one at the top (for the head).
2 sleeves: For the arms.

1 bottom hole: The biggest one, where you can get into the shirt.
Why is this written about in connection with narcissism?
It’s classic “clickbait”. Internet tests often use shocking claims (e.g. “If you see 8 holes, you’re a genius”, or vice versa “You’re a narcissist”) to evoke strong emotions.

People then tend to share the result – either to brag about how smart they are, or to argue in the comments that it’s nonsense. And that’s exactly what the creators are after: virality.

So, how many did you count first? And do you now feel more like a narcissist, or like a victim of internet trolling?