If you see 13-16 triangles
You’re a keen observer. You can see details without losing sight of the bigger picture. You check connections between things and often read between the lines.
People like you are both intuitive and analytical. You know when something isn’t right, but you always look for logical explanations. In social situations, you’re both empathetic and cautious: the perfect combination of heart and mind.
If you see more than 20 triangles
You might be one of those so-called “pattern amplifiers.” You see opportunities everywhere, even where they don’t exist yet. Your creativity and imagination drive you to combine every small detail into a greater whole.
And this is where the viral legend comes in: “The number of triangles you see determines whether you are a narcissist.”
People who overanalyze or exaggerate patterns sometimes tend to think egocentrically, assuming their interpretation is the only correct one. Of course, this doesn’t mean they’re narcissistic, but rather have a strong ego, great confidence in their own perception, and a desire to be right.
In moderation, it’s a strength. But if overdone, it can make you less receptive to other people’s opinions.
The pleasure of personality illusions
These tests aren’t diagnostic; they’re just playful suggestions to encourage reflection on how our minds work. Whether you saw 9, 13, or 27 triangles, what matters is why you saw them.
Are you more drawn to order or fantasy? Do you focus on what’s in front of you or what might be behind you?
Our brains are designed to recognize meaning, even in the simplest forms. This makes people infinitely curious, and sometimes even wonderfully complex.
At first glance, the image above seems simple: a few colored triangles stacked on top of each other. But upon closer inspection, the counting method changes. Some see nine triangles, others thirteen, and some even claim to recognize more than twenty by adding up all the hidden shapes.
This optical puzzle has gone viral for a simple reason: it’s not so much about math as it is about how we see the world.
The illusion behind the triangles
The image forms a pyramid of small, candy-colored triangles. Depending on how your brain processes visual patterns, you can simply count the individual parts or start connecting them into larger shapes.
Psychologists call it Gestalt perception: our brain’s tendency to look at the whole rather than the individual parts. When you see an image, your subconscious decides whether to focus on the details or the overall picture. And this decision reveals something surprising about your personality.
When you see a triangle 9
You’re probably a realist. You focus on the obvious and the practical. You trust what you see clearly and don’t waste time chasing opportunities that might not even exist. In relationships and at work, you value stability and simplicity.
However, this approach can lead to overlooking deeper meanings or hidden motivations, especially in people. People prefer clarity, but life isn’t always clear.
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