This is a 50-question test to assist in the determination of your NPA Character Type.

The charts below will

display when all questions are answered. Instant results!
All questions are answered on a 0 to 4 scale, as follows: 4 = "I agree" or TRUE or Yes!
3 = "I somewhat agree" 2 = Neutral 1 = "I somewhat disagree"
0 = "I disagree" or FALSE or No!

Suggestions: Take a bit of time before answering. Imagine the situations depicted. Think about yourself
rather than about the test. Try to see yourself as others see you. Read the entire list of questions before
starting the test. 1. If you succeed, would you like to bask in the limelight of public acclaim? 2.
Are you a “strong silent type” who rarely attempts to smile and is good at staring people down? 3. Is
this you: talkative, impatient, much sex appeal, smiles and laughs easily, having a sharp-edged
personality? 4. When things must get done, are you liable to push people aside and ask questions
later? 5. With minor stress, do you have a tremulous voice or hesitancy in speech? 6. At a quiet
party, would you welcome a newcomer with a hearty yell across the room? 7. Is this you: quiet,
friendly, meticulous, extremely organized, aloof, nice smile, careful handwriting, strong and stubborn?
8. Does your laughter tend to the high-pitched, hysterical side? 9. Do you tend to be suspicious and
confrontational, rather than accepting other people’s motives and actions? 10. In a touching,
emotional situation, would you be unsympathetic to the “weeping weaklings” around you and head for the
door? 11. In school were you an earnest, introspective student who was hesitant to speak up in class,
dying a thousand deaths waiting to be called upon? 12. In relaxed social situations, do you speak with
a loud, carefully-controlled voice and make intense eye contact with others? 13. Are you attracted to
activities that are slow moving and require careful attention to detail? 14. In school or college would
you be attracted to cheerleading, singing, drama or the dance? 15. On the stage would you be natural
as the villain: cool, calculating, suspicious, vindictive, a stern colorless face, and a dagger at hand?
16. Do you have the potential to be a well-organized, dynamic speaker who would never read to an
audience from a prepared text? 17. Could you be described as hyperactive, unembarrassable, and
attracted to good food, sex, travel and excitement? 18. Is it possible that you will tangle with the law
for vindictive, belligerent, violent behavior? 19. When “wronged” by someone, do you typically reply
with “the silent treatment” rather than being vocal? 20. Do you sometimes “get into a world of your
own”, become depressed and think that you could survive as a hermit? 21. In photographs do you
andat least one family member show a broad charismatic smile? 22. Could this be you: loud,
unrestrained, unsmiling, colorless complexion, tendency to bully, unfocused, unruly, a real brute? 23.
Are you a nice person who is easily taken advantage of, or bullied, in work or love relationships? 24.
Is this you: sociable but not sexy, rather loud voice, conventional lifestyle, maternalistic or paternalistic,
dynamic, a managerial outlook on life, a bulldog? 25. Do these terms apply to you: extroverted,
unaggressive, unfocused, warm, vain, sexy, unconventional: a teddy bear or a baby doll? 26. When
excited does your voice easily become piercing (male) or shrill (female)? 27. When you have a
seething rage, does the blood drain from your face, giving you a frightening, evil appearance? 28. Do
people say, much to your annoyance, that you have the “clean gene”, or that you are “obsessive-
compulsive”? 29. Are you rather slow to be drawn into intimate or sexual relationships? 30.
Could this be you: reserved, well organized, aloof, tending to be sarcastic or cynical, a grin rather than a
smile, a coiled spring capable of pouncing on someone? 31. Do you get extremely nervous or anxious
about speaking in public, even in benign situations? 32. Are you an extroverted, active person who
has no interest at all in social events or friendly people? 33. Do you become more upset than most
people if there is a lack of order, neatness or cleanliness? 34. When angered, could you be described
as tearful, hysterical, and liable to lash out with talons bared? 35. If someone were slow at doing
something, would you immediately intervene and say with a forceful voice, “Let me help you with that!”
36. At a party can you become really carried away while telling people about your interests and
expertise? 37. Do you generally lack self-confidence or have feelings of free-floating anxiety or
inferiority? 38. Would you do well in the imagined role of a stern, pallid-faced Roman emperor
(empress) capable of harsh judgments? 39. Could you picture yourself as the TV anchorperson:
likeable, reserved smile, very organized, very focused, forceful voice: a Wolf Blitzer or a Christianne
Amanpour? 40. Does colorful adornment, e.g., fancy clothes, rings or accessories of gold, come
naturally to you? 41. Are you shy in social situations, e.g., small groups, parties, dinners? 42. If
someone were casually to lay a hand on you, is it likely that you would immediately respond with a punch
in the face? 43. Are you rather likely to have many short-lived love affairs in which you treat your
weaker partner rather cruelly? 44. Are you rather slow and very stubborn in getting a task well done?
45. Are you (potentially) a good leader because of your dynamic style, your talents for organization, as
well as your ease in social situations? 46. Do you go at lengths to avoid anxiety-producing
confrontations with other people? 47. Is your humor reserved, biting and sarcastic, rather than open
and jocular? 48. Are you more hyperactive and sexually provocative than other people, a vampire in
your dreams? 49. At a social occasion, would you be at ease in musical, theatrical or clownish
situations? 50. In sports or games are you be likely to become involved in physical fights in which
you really intend to injure, if not kill, your opponent? By selecting "I agree", I acknowledge that (1)
this test is to be used for my personal use only, (2) the information herein may, or may not, be applicable to
my personal life, and (3) NPA theory involves copyrighted materials. -- -- Important: Be sure that all
questions are answered before choosing "I agree". The two graphs below (left) display the relative
probability of your having the traits N, P and A. The bar graph below (right) shows on a relative scale your
trends toward N, NP, NA, NPA, PA and A behavior. • focus your F-
score = 0-20 = low: diffuse, expansive 20-70 = moderate: reflective, pragmatic 70-100 =
high: contemplative, analytical • temperament your T-score = 0-10 = low:
phlegmatic 10-20 = low: reserved 20-30 = moderate 30-60 = high: reactive 60-100 =
high: volatile • submissiveness, anxiety, depression your S-score = 0-30 =
low 30-60 = moderate 60-100 = high probability N NP NA NPA PA A S(-)
The S-score is a measure of anxiety, depression or submissiveness in social relations on a
scale of 0-100. If the score is >20, then it becomes likely that either trait N or A, or both, is only partially
expressed. This test does not explore the many possible reasons for a high S-score. The most common
reason is suppressed aggression (submissive types) or suppressed narcissism (narcissistic borderline types).
In individuals having consulted a mental health professional common reasons might be depression or
bipolar disorder. The T-score is a measure of temperament, also on a scale of 0-100. Low temperament
individuals tend to be reserved or phlegmatic. High temperament individuals tend to be reactive or
volatile. The F score is a measure of the degree of organization of an individual's personality, again on a
scale of 0-100. Organized individuals with analytical tendencies will tend to score high on this scale,
while less focused, expansive or practical individuals will tend to score low.

Q. What is the "NPA theory" of personality?

A. The NPA theory of personality was developed by the author on the basis of concepts initially described
by psychiatrist Karen Horney. We identified three major behavioral traits underlying personality:
narcissism (N), perfectionism (P) and aggression (A). We found evidence that each trait is based on the
expression of a single gene that follows the usual rules of Mendelian genetics.

Q. How is the theory useful?

A. It has the power to explain aspects of personality and temperament that previously had seemed too
complicated to understand. In particular, it provides anyone the ability to analyze problems of
interpersonal relations on the basis of "personality types."

Q. Are these three character traits really important?

A. Yes. We propose that the natural character traits narcissism (N) and aggression (A) are indispensable to
human development. They are part and parcel of our central nervous system. Every individual must
possess either trait A or trait N, or both.

Q. Could we start with the trait of aggression?

A. The trait of aggression is the one that is the most familiar to us. Individuals having the trait are
continually competing with each other on a scale of dominance and submission. The trait corresponds to a
striving for power over one's environment. The trait of aggression may reveal itself in the context of sadism
or masochism. Its hallmark is the "flight or fight" response, or the aggressive-vindictive rage. During the
expression of this rage blood drains from the skin, and the facial complexion will tend toward pallor in
individuals of light skin color.

Q. What about the trait of narcissism?

A. The trait of narcissism is not so well known. Actions associated with the trait include flaunting body
posturing, expansive arm gestures, smiling, bowing, colorful self-adornment, and a natural attraction to the
limelight of personal recognition. The trait corresponds to a striving for glory in one's environment. The
trait of narcissism may reveal itself in the context of conceit, exhibitionism, vanity and messianism.
Hallmarks of the trait include blushing, flushing and the narcissistic rage. During the expression of this
rage the facial complexion becomes flushed or florid.

Q. And perfectionism?

A. The trait of perfectionism is a mediator of the drives of aggression and narcissism, and it is not
associated with a rage reaction. Acts associated with the trait are obsessiveness, compulsiveness,
repetition, and the desire for neatness, order and symmetry. A clue to the nature of the trait lies in the
compulsive, repetitive mannerisms of autistic children and some adult schizophrenic individuals.

Q. And combinations of just these three traits (narcissism, perfectionism and aggression) give rise to
distinct personality types?

A. Yes. We call them "character types", since there is much more to personality than just the three NPA
traits.

We consider first:

Dominant Types ..... in which the traits of aggression (A) and/or narcissism (N) are fully expressed. We
obtain:

N ..... Narcissistic personality. "The non-aggressive, non-perfectionist." "Sanguine personality".

A ..... Aggressive personality. Non-sanguine, non-smiling, dynamic individual.

NP ..... Narcissistic-perfectionist personality. Sanguine, highly organized personality. "The quiet

achiever."

NA ..... Narcissistic-aggressive personality. Sanguine, non-perfectionistic, sociable personality. .

PA ..... Perfectionistic-aggressive personality. Non-sanguine perfectionistic personality.

NPA ..... Narcissistic-perfectionistic-aggressive personality. Sanguine, dynamic personality.

Q. That completes the picture of NPA character types?

A. Not quite. There exist other major groupings, namely:

Submissive types ..... in which the trait A is not fully expressed since childhood.

Resigned types ..... in which the trait A is repressed after maturity.

Borderline types ..... in which neither trait A nor N is fully expressed in the individual. Some of these
withdrawn individuals are prone to various mental illnesses and may require hospitalization.
An example of a borderline type is the N-P type ..... Narcissistic- perfectionisitic borderline personality:
This is the borderline or "successful" autistic personality (infantile autism: Kanner or Asperger syndrome).

Space does not permit elaboration of these very important groupings.

Q. What is meant by "sanguine" and "non-sanguine"?

A. Sanguine character types have the N trait. They tend to have ruddy or florid facial complexions (in
individuals of light skin color), and they tend to blush, flush and smile easily. Non-sanguine types (A and
PA) do not have the N trait. They tend to have non-florid complexions and are relatively inhibited from
blushing, flushing and smiling.

Q. Are there any factors that complicate matters?

A. Yes. Although we have used the term "personality type", we should more appropriately say "character
type." Indeed, we consider personality to be primarily the resultant of two main entities: character type
(traits N, P and A) and
temperament. Human temperament in the pavlovian sense -- a measure of an individual's level of activity
or excitability -- clearly also has a genetic basis. Although our analysis focuses mainly on the first entity,
character type, we allow for many other "modifier genes" contributing to temperament and to other facets
of personality.

Environmental influences also contribute to personality; these effects may be considered to be overlaid on
the NPA genetic structure.

Finally, there are many other secondary aspects that go into "personality", some of them depending on
cognition (intelligence, thinking, learning and reasoning).

However, complex as personality can be, the clear understanding of one's behavior must first begin with the
identification of one's NPA genetic character type.

Q. Don't the three traits of narcissism, perfectionism and aggression carry a negative connotation?

A. No. These are natural traits, and all humans have them. They are part and parcel of the human
character structure, and one should take pride in them.

Q. If human personality rests on genetic factors, does this mean that there is a "biological
determinism" to human behavior? Does this mean that our character traits are determined from the
day that we are born, and there is nothing we can do to affect our behavior?

A. No. Although much of our personality is innately genetic, our cognitive potential (intelligence,
reasoning, etc.) does give us a measure of "free will". Although we cannot alter our basic character traits,
we certainly can alter our behavior.

Q. Is there a relationship between NPA character type and disease?

A. We believe that the genes that determine NPA character type are also involved in the predisposition to
many diseases, both physical and mental. This interaction may explain the basis of many of the so-called
"psychosomatic diseases" that have been in the medical literature for many years. These diseases include
ones like diabetes, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel disease, peptic ulcer, coronary artery disease,
spasmodic dysphonia and rheumatoid arthritis.