You spot a bright orange tee with two ragged tears in the front. Under the picture are four choices – 2, 4, 6, or 8 holes and a cheeky headline: “How many holes you see in this T-shirt determines if you’re a narcissist.” Before you rush to judge yourself, let’s treat this as the kind of light, shareable brain-teaser that reveals more about how you think than it does about your mental health.
Below I’ll share the puzzle, give the answer most puzzlers accept, and — for fun — provide personality read-outs for each choice.
The puzzle: what counts as a “hole”?
The trick in many visual riddles is definition. When you look at a shirt, do you count only the obvious tears? Or do you include the built-in openings (neck, sleeves, waist)? Different valid interpretations produce different answers.
Let’s check all the possible “holes” visible or implied in the illustration:
- The two ripped holes in the front (big, obvious).
- The neck opening (where you put your head).
- The left sleeve opening (arm hole).
- The right sleeve opening (arm hole).
- The bottom/waist opening (where the torso goes through).
