Research measure guide

Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS)

A transparent explanation of what the HSNS measures, how its score works, and what the result cannot establish.

The online questionnaire is being revised

The previous 20-question quiz did not match the published HSNS. It has been removed rather than continuing to show an inaccurate score. The questionnaire will return only after the exact item version, display rights, scoring, and independent review are documented.

Verified scoring facts

Number of items
10
Response range
1–5 per item
Total score range
1050
Published structure
One total score

The published method adds ten responses to produce a raw score from 10 to 50. Higher totals represent greater endorsement of the tendencies measured by this research scale.

The original study did not establish this site's former five dimensions, percentage score, or four severity bands. The HSNS is a personality research measure and does not diagnose narcissistic personality disorder.

Research limitations

  • The original samples were primarily college students.
  • A raw score is not a clinical cutoff or a measure of personal worth.
  • NPI-16 and HSNS scores must not be combined into an NPD risk score.

Source

Method details are based on Hendin and Cheek's original HSNS research. Review the source publication and DOI 10.1006/jrpe.1997.2204.

Availability and privacy

There is no completion time because the HSNS questionnaire is not currently available on this site. This page does not collect or store HSNS answers or results. General page analytics and advertising may still load as described in the Privacy Policy.