The HSNS measures covert, vulnerable narcissism (hypersensitivity to criticism, self-absorption, and quiet entitlement), the expression of narcissism that grandiosity-focused instruments such as the NPI do not capture.
Hendin and Cheek derived the scale from Murray's 1930s Narcism Scale by retaining the items that tracked an MMPI-based index of covert narcissism in college samples.
Scores correlate near zero with the NPI yet track neuroticism and vulnerable-narcissism measures, supporting the view that grandiose and vulnerable narcissism are distinct dimensions best measured separately.
The evidence base rests mainly on college samples, reliability was modest in the all-male development sample, and no published cutoffs exist, so interpret scores continuously and relative to your own sample.
At a Glance
Items
10, drawn from Murray’s (1938) Narcism Scale
Administration time
A few minutes (no published estimate)
Response format
5-point scale with only the endpoints labeled: 1 = “very uncharacteristic or untrue; strongly disagree”, 5 = “very characteristic or true; strongly agree”
Scores
Single total score (sum of all 10 items, range 10-50); no subscales, no reverse-keyed items
Hendin & Cheek (1997), Journal of Research in Personality
Introduction
The Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale (HSNS) is a 10-item self-report measure of covert, or vulnerable, narcissism developed by Hendin and Cheek (1997). Rather than writing new items, the authors returned to the Narcism Scale from Murray’s (1938) exploratory personality studies and retained the ten items that tracked an MMPI-based composite of covert narcissism across three college samples (total N = 403). The result is a brief instrument that captures hypersensitivity to evaluation, self-absorption, and quiet entitlement, a form of narcissism largely invisible to grandiosity-focused instruments such as the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI).
Understanding Covert (Vulnerable) Narcissism
Research distinguishes two primary expressions of narcissism: a grandiose form (overt, exhibitionistic, marked by arrogance and open entitlement) and a vulnerable form (covert, marked by hypersensitivity, neuroticism, and defensiveness) (Wink, 1991; Pincus et al., 2009). Where grandiose narcissists display their perceived superiority, vulnerable narcissists harbor similarly inflated self-views but express them through sensitivity to criticism, intense reactions to perceived slights, and defensive self-protection. Narcissistic vulnerability involves the conscious experience of helplessness, low self-esteem, and shame, and the use of social avoidance to cope with threats to the self (Pincus et al., 2009). Such individuals may alternate between fantasies of greatness and feelings of unworthiness, pairing defensive self-enhancement with vulnerability to ego threat (Wink, 1991).
Theoretical Foundation
The HSNS operationalizes the covert side of Wink’s (1991) “two faces of narcissism,” which separated a Grandiosity-Exhibitionism component from a Vulnerability-Sensitivity component in MMPI-based narcissism measures. Hendin and Cheek (1997) selected items from Murray’s Narcism Scale by their correlations with an MMPI-based composite of covert narcissism built from Wink’s analysis. Consistent with this derivation, the scale’s item content reflects the hypersensitivity, vulnerability, and entitlement that characterize the construct (Miller et al., 2011). The paper’s central discriminant finding was that the HSNS “correlated near zero” with the NPI (Hendin & Cheek, 1997).
🎠Key insight: The HSNS measures the narcissism the NPI misses. Its scores correlate near zero with the field’s dominant grandiosity measure, which established vulnerable narcissism as a separate dimension that must be assessed with its own instrument.
Key Features
Assessment Characteristics
10 self-descriptive statements, rated for how characteristic each is of oneself
5-point response scale with only the endpoints labeled (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Single total score; no subscales and no reverse-keyed items
A few minutes to complete; developed and validated with college and undergraduate samples
Openly published item set; no commercial licensor
Dimensions Assessed
The HSNS yields one score; its item content spans three intertwined facets of the covert-narcissism construct (Miller et al., 2011):
Hypersensitivity – reactivity to ridicule, slighting remarks, and evaluation by others
Vulnerability – fragile self-regard and defensiveness under ego threat
Covert entitlement – self-absorption, reluctance to share credit, feeling temperamentally different from others
Versions & Adaptations
Original 10-item HSNS (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale (MCNS), a 23-item expanded variant circulated as a conference poster (Cheek, Hendin, & Wink, 2013)
Italian adaptation (Fossati et al., 2009)
No other published forms were identified during verification
Research Applications
Narcissism-subtype research – operationalizing vulnerable narcissism alongside grandiose measures such as the NPI
Nomological-network studies – relating vulnerable narcissism to personality traits, attachment, and psychopathology (Miller et al., 2011)
Normal-range individual differences – the scale was developed for non-clinical personality research, not diagnosis (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Cross-cultural adaptation research (Fossati et al., 2009)
Assess characteristics of vulnerable, hypersensitive narcissistic traits.
Scoring and Interpretation
Response Format
Each statement is rated on a 5-point scale on which only the endpoints carry labels: 1 = “very uncharacteristic or untrue; strongly disagree” and 5 = “very characteristic or true; strongly agree” (Hendin & Cheek, 1997, p. 591). The intermediate points (2, 3, 4) are unlabeled in the original administration.
Illustrative Items
The full item set is openly published in the development article; five of the ten items illustrate the content (Hendin & Cheek, 1997, Table 1):
“I can become entirely absorbed in thinking about my personal affairs, my health, my cares or my relations to others”
“My feelings are easily hurt by ridicule or by the slighting remarks of others”
“I feel that I have enough on my hands without worrying about other people’s troubles”
“I dislike sharing the credit of an achievement with others”
“I feel that I am temperamentally different from most people”
Scoring Procedure
Total score = sum of all 10 item responses (range 10-50).
No reverse scoring: all items are keyed positively.
No published cutoffs or interpretation bands exist for the HSNS in the development paper or the audited literature. Scores are interpreted continuously, relative to the researcher’s own sample. The statistics below are descriptive sample means, not normative standards.
Population Norms
Sample
N
M
SD
Source
Undergraduate women (Sample 1)
109
28.7
6.2
Hendin & Cheek (1997)
Undergraduate women (Sample 2)
151
29.7
6.1
Hendin & Cheek (1997)
Undergraduate men (Sample 3)
143
29.3
4.7
Hendin & Cheek (1997)
College men (supplementary sample)
101
29.8
6.0
Hendin & Cheek (1997)
The grand mean across these 504 college students is approximately 29.4 (Hendin & Cheek, 1997). No community-adult or clinical norms were identified during verification.
Research Evidence and Psychometric Properties
Reliability Evidence
Internal consistency in the development samples: α = .72 (Sample 1), .75 (Sample 2), .62 (Sample 3, men), and .76 (supplementary male sample) (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Independent estimate: α = .71 in a combined undergraduate sample (N = 858) (Miller et al., 2011, Table 1)
Test-retest reliability: none is reported in the development paper
Factor Structure
Unidimensionality supported in the original samples: all 10 items loaded on the first unrotated factor in each of the three development samples (Hendin & Cheek, 1997, footnote 3)
Later work has questioned strict unidimensionality (Fossati et al., 2009)
Placement in the narcissism domain: the HSNS loaded .69 on a vulnerable narcissism factor alongside the Pathological Narcissism Inventory’s vulnerability scales, distinct from a grandiose narcissism factor (Miller et al., 2011)
Convergent and Discriminant Validity
Convergent validity:
MMPI-based covert-narcissism composite: r = .63 in Sample 1 (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Neuroticism: r = .51 with Big Five Inventory Neuroticism (Sample 2, N = 151; Hendin & Cheek, 1997, Table 3); r = .58 with NEO-PI-R Neuroticism (n = 238 undergraduates; Miller et al., 2011, Table 2)
Pathological Narcissism Inventory vulnerability scales: Contingent Self-Esteem r = .57, Entitlement Rage r = .55, Devaluing r = .46 (N = 858; Miller et al., 2011, Table 1)
Discriminant validity:
NPI (grandiose narcissism): essentially uncorrelated in the development samples, r = .02 (ns), .16, and -.04 (ns); the paper concludes the HSNS “correlated near zero” with the NPI (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Corroboration: r = .04 and .11 with the two NPI factors (Miller et al., 2011, Table 1); the HSNS “derives a single score that is uncorrelated with the NPI total score” (Pincus et al., 2009, p. 366)
Correlates of Vulnerable Narcissism
Miller et al. (2011) report the following correlates for a vulnerable narcissism factor score on which the HSNS is a primary marker (loading .69), not for the HSNS alone; they characterize the pattern at factor level (undergraduate sample, n = 238):
Emotional distress: depression r = .55 and anxiety r = .38 (Miller et al., 2011, Table 5)
Cluster C personality features: avoidant personality disorder features r = .54 and dependent personality disorder features r = .42 (Miller et al., 2011, Table 5)
Adult attachment: anxious attachment r = .52 and avoidant attachment r = .27 (Miller et al., 2011, Table 4)
Interpersonal reactivity: experiencing anger in ambiguous social interactions r = .43 (Miller et al., 2011, Table 4)
Usage Guidelines and Applications
Primary Research Applications
Measuring vulnerable (covert) narcissism as a normal-range individual difference (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Studying how narcissism subtypes relate differently to personality, attachment, and psychopathology (Miller et al., 2011)
Pairing with a grandiosity measure such as the NPI so both expressions of narcissism are captured
Research Design Considerations
Interpret scores continuously: no published cutoffs or bands exist; compare against your own sample or the descriptive college means above
Distinguish scale-level from factor-level evidence: several widely cited correlates from Miller et al. (2011) describe a vulnerable narcissism factor, not the HSNS by itself
Administer the original response format: only the endpoints are labeled; adding intermediate labels departs from the published administration (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Brevity suits batteries: ten items add little burden when combined with other narcissism or personality measures
Cultural Considerations
Item wording originates in Murray’s (1938) scale, so some phrasing is dated; check comprehension in contemporary and non-U.S. samples
An Italian adaptation has been published (Fossati et al., 2009); for other languages, check local validation work before use
Limitations and Cautions
Modest reliability in some samples: internal consistency dropped to .62 in the all-male development sample (Hendin & Cheek, 1997)
Research instrument, not a diagnostic tool: the HSNS indexes normal-range individual differences and does not diagnose narcissistic personality disorder
Evidence base is largely collegiate: development and key validation samples were college students (Hendin & Cheek, 1997; Miller et al., 2011)
Dimensionality is debated: unidimensionality was supported in the original samples, but later work has questioned strict unidimensionality (Fossati et al., 2009)
Standard self-report caveats: responses may be influenced by current mood state, and ten items cannot cover every aspect of vulnerable narcissism
Copyright and Usage Responsibility: Check that you have the proper rights and permissions to use this assessment tool in your research. This may include purchasing appropriate licenses, obtaining permissions from authors/copyright holders, or ensuring your usage falls within fair use guidelines.
Proper Attribution: When using or referencing this scale, cite the original development:
Hendin, H. M., & Cheek, J. M. (1997). Assessing hypersensitive narcissism: A reexamination of Murray’s Narcism Scale. Journal of Research in Personality, 31(4), 588-599. https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1997.2204
Hendin, H. M., & Cheek, J. M. (1997). Assessing hypersensitive narcissism: A reexamination of Murray’s Narcism Scale. Journal of Research in Personality, 31(4), 588-599. https://doi.org/10.1006/jrpe.1997.2204
Historical Source:
Murray, H. A. (1938). Explorations in personality. New York: Oxford University Press. (no DOI)
Versions and Adaptations:
Cheek, J. M., Hendin, H. M., & Wink, P. (2013). [Poster presented at the meeting of the Society for Personality and Social Psychology]. PsycEXTRA. https://doi.org/10.1037/e571452013-138
Miller, J. D., Hoffman, B. J., Gaughan, E. T., Gentile, B., Maples, J., & Campbell, W. K. (2011). Grandiose and vulnerable narcissism: A nomological network analysis. Journal of Personality, 79(5), 1013-1042. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2010.00711.x
Pincus, A. L., Ansell, E. B., Pimentel, C. A., Cain, N. M., Wright, A. G. C., & Levy, K. N. (2009). Initial construction and validation of the Pathological Narcissism Inventory. Psychological Assessment, 21(3), 365-379. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016530
A puffed-up, defensive pufferfish — embodying fragile ego, hypersensitivity to criticism, and vulnerable narcissism measured by the HSNS (Hypersensitive Narcissism Scale)
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the HSNS measure?
Covert (vulnerable) narcissism: hypersensitivity to criticism and slights, self-absorption, defensiveness under ego threat, and a quiet sense of entitlement. Unlike grandiose narcissism scales such as the NPI, it captures the hidden, fragile side of narcissism rather than overt arrogance and exhibitionism.
How is the HSNS scored?
Sum all 10 item responses for a total score from 10 to 50; no items are reverse-keyed, and higher scores indicate greater hypersensitive narcissism. No published cutoffs or interpretation bands exist, so interpret scores relative to your sample. In the original college samples, means clustered around 29 (Hendin and Cheek, 1997).
What response scale does the HSNS use?
A 5-point scale on which only the endpoints are labeled: 1 = very uncharacteristic or untrue; strongly disagree, and 5 = very characteristic or true; strongly agree. The intermediate points (2, 3, 4) carry no labels in the original administration.
Is the HSNS free to use?
There is no commercial licensor. The item texts originate in Murray's 1938 Narcism Scale, and the full 10-item set is reproduced in the development article (copyright 1997 Academic Press, now Elsevier). The scale is free for non-commercial research use with citation of Hendin and Cheek (1997); verify permissions for commercial applications.
How does the HSNS differ from the NPI?
The HSNS measures vulnerable (covert) narcissism, while the NPI measures grandiose (overt) narcissism. In the development samples the two were essentially uncorrelated (rs of -.04 to .16, described as "near zero"), a result corroborated in later work. The HSNS tracks neuroticism and vulnerable-narcissism measures.
How reliable is the HSNS?
Internal consistency was .72, .75, .62, and .76 across the four original college samples (Hendin and Cheek, 1997), with an independent estimate of .71 in an undergraduate sample (N = 858) (Miller et al., 2011). That is modest but serviceable for a ten-item research scale; the .62 came from the all-male sample. No test-retest reliability is reported in the development paper.
Are there other versions of the HSNS?
Two were identified during verification: the Maladaptive Covert Narcissism Scale (MCNS), a 23-item expanded variant circulated as a conference poster (Cheek, Hendin, and Wink, 2013), and an Italian adaptation (Fossati et al., 2009).
