Your overall pattern
Your scores suggest a mix of normal self-focus with a generally grounded view of yourself and others. You might like to feel competent and respected, but you are less likely to build your identity on being “above” other people or to crumble completely when you are not in the spotlight.
In practice, this often looks like valuing your own strengths while still recognizing that everyone has strengths and weaknesses, including you.
This pattern is not about being perfectly humble or never self-focused; it is about having some flex and kindness toward yourself and others when ego needs show up.
Typical behaviors
- You can feel pleased and proud when things go well, without needing constant admiration.
- You may notice status and comparison, but it does not dominate your decisions or relationships.
- Criticism can sting, but you are more able to reflect, ask what is useful, and then move on.
- In conflicts, you may want to be heard without needing to “destroy” the other person or prove total superiority.
- You can be aware of your image, but you do not feel you must control how everyone sees you all the time.
Strengths in this pattern
- Capacity for genuine connection: You can see other people as more than an audience, which supports real closeness.
- More flexible self-esteem: Your sense of worth is less likely to collapse after a single mistake or awkward moment.
- Room for growth and feedback: You may be better able to use feedback, both positive and negative, without becoming defensive.
- Lower risk of extreme swings: You are less likely to bounce between feeling “perfect” and “worthless.”
- Healthier competition: You can enjoy doing well without needing to humiliate others.
Common pitfalls
Even a balanced pattern can have friction points:
- You might still avoid facing certain flaws or vulnerabilities because it is uncomfortable.
- You may minimize how much you quietly compare yourself to others, telling yourself it “doesn’t matter” when it sometimes does.
- You might occasionally downplay the impact of your behavior when your need to be seen or appreciated shows up in subtle ways.
- When stressed, you could temporarily swing toward either chasing admiration or becoming more self-protective and distant than usual.
- You may underestimate how sensitive other people are to status dynamics, even if they affect you less.
A useful question to keep asking is: “When I feel fragile or insecure, how do I tend to protect my self-image, and how does that affect the people around me?”
What you can do next
Small actions you can start today
- Notice one situation where you feel a pull to look “good” and ask yourself how you can also stay honest and human in that moment.
- When you catch yourself comparing, gently label it (“I’m comparing again”) and shift your attention to what you genuinely value in your own path.
- Practice one small act of appreciation each day that is not about performance—thanking someone simply for who they are, not just what they did.
Longer-term directions
- Reflect on your deeper values: beyond status or image, what kind of person do you want to be in relationships and at work?
- Consider journaling about criticism: What kinds of feedback feel especially threatening, and what stories do you tell yourself in those moments?
- Learn more about emotional regulation and self-compassion, so that when ego pain shows up, you have tools other than defensiveness or withdrawal.
- If you see patterns of competitiveness or self-protection starting to hurt your relationships, exploring these themes with a mental health professional can be very helpful.
Disclaimer and when to seek help
This test describes patterns of self-focus and sensitivity, but it does not diagnose any personality disorder or mental illness. The results are meant for self-reflection and education only.
If you notice long-term emotional distress, repeated patterns of intense conflict in relationships, strong urges to control others, or thoughts of harming yourself or someone else, it is important to seek support from a qualified mental health professional. They can help you explore what is happening in more depth and find safer, more sustainable ways of coping.