The Szondi Test: 8 Portraits That May Reveal Your Hidden Personality

In the 20th century, Hungarian psychiatrist Léopold Szondi developed a test to reveal a person’s unconscious thoughts, desires, and impulses. The psychiatrist believed that people are attracted to those who are similar to them. Thus, he created a projective psychological personality test called the Szondi test.

Recently, after a Facebook user named Junji Noe posted a shortened version of the psychology text with pictures, it quickly went viral, with thousands of people showing their curiosity about their hidden personality traits. While the test can undeniably pose some interesting results about different personalities, it is recommended not to take the Szondi test at face value, as it lacks a scientific basis.

Black and white portraits arranged as cards from the Szondi test used to reveal hidden personality traits.

Image credits: sciencemuseum.org.uk

How Does the Szondi Test Work?

The Szondi test involves showing the examinee a series of headshots taken of people who suffered from various mental disorders. The examinee is then asked to pick out the two most appealing and two most repulsive photos of them all.

The choice was then analyzed and could supposedly give insight into parts of the examinee’s personality that they were satisfied with and dissatisfied with. Back then, the psychological test with pictures included six photos of each of the eight main groups, with a total of 48 photos. The psychology test pictures were chosen from psychiatric books published around 1900.

However, this psychology test with pictures was later dismissed, with other psychologists stating that an individual’s physical appearance cannot be a good signifier of their mental health. Despite not being commonly used today, the Szondi test still bugs people’s minds.

Screenshot of a social media post describing the Szondi Test, a psychoanalytical test by Hungarian psychoanalyst Léopold Szondi.

Text instructions describing 8 portraits in the Szondi Test, prompting viewers to identify the scariest or most repulsive image.

Four black and white portraits used in the Szondi Test depicting various facial expressions for personality analysis.

Eight black and white portraits used in the Szondi Test revealing aspects of hidden personality traits.

Images of Szondi test portraits showing 8 faces used to reveal hidden aspects of personality through subconscious choices.

Text excerpt explaining the Szondi Test results, emphasizing personality insights rather than mental conditions.

Text explaining the Szondi Test format detailing repression, denial actions, and sublimation in hidden personality traits.

Text excerpt describing the Sadist personality trait from the Szondi Test revealing hidden personality aspects.

Text excerpt explaining repression and sublimination traits related to the Szondi test and hidden personality insights.

Excerpt from the Szondi Test describing the Epileptic portrait revealing hidden emotional traits.

Text description of Szondi Test repression traits explaining anger, irritability, and hidden personality insights from 8 portraits.

Text describing the Catatonic personality type from the Szondi Test, revealing hidden traits and behaviors.

Text excerpt explaining repression and sublimation related to personality traits in the Szondi Test, highlighting mental hyperactivity and defense behaviors.

Text excerpt from the Szondi Test describing the schizophrenic portrait revealing hidden personality traits and social struggles.

Text explaining repression, denial by sociability, and sublimation related to feelings of apathy in the Szondi Test portraits.

Text describing the Hysteric personality type in the Szondi Test, revealing hidden traits through portraits.

Text describing repression, denial, and sublimation traits from The Szondi Test portraits revealing hidden personality.

Text describing the Szondi test portrait labeled The Depressive, explaining personality traits and hidden emotions linked to the choice.

Text describing feelings of worthlessness and sublimation, related to The Szondi Test revealing hidden personality traits.

Text excerpt from the Szondi Test describing personality traits of the Maniac portrait, revealing hidden impulsive tendencies.

Text showing psychological traits related to repression and sublimation from the Szondi Test portraits revealing hidden personality.

Text describing dissociative identity disorder from the Szondi Test revealing hidden personality traits and childhood trauma.

Text explaining repression, denial, and sublimation in personality, related to the Szondi Test insights.

Screenshot of a social media post discussing the Szondi Test and its accuracy as a psychoanalytic tool.

What is the Most Trusted Personality Test?

The Szondi test online version (or the original version) is not scientifically based, and its accuracy is highly questionable. However, there definitely are personality tests that can be trusted to give you a fair briefing of your character.

The most trusted personality test is known as The Big Five personality test and is widely considered to be the most scientifically accurate test. The test is based on five key personality dimensions—openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism—that determine the core of our individual personality makeup.

The test requires the testee to answer sixty questions, and once they are done, a short brief is given to them with a pretty accurate personality description. The description falls into one of the “types.” And if you’re curious about your own personality type, you can always take The Big Five test online.

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