How Many Holes You See in This T-Shirt Determines if You’re a Narcissist

A viral brain teaser showing an orange T-shirt with two visible rips has been making the rounds online. The post poses a simple yet surprisingly tricky question: “How many holes do you see, 2, 4, 6, or 8?” Along with that, it adds a teasing claim that your answer supposedly reveals something about your personality. Despite the suggestion of psychological insight, this riddle is not a genuine personality test. It is a lighthearted puzzle designed to spark debate about how people define, visualize, and interpret the idea of a “hole.”

At first glance, the question seems easy. Most people immediately notice the two ragged tears in the front of the shirt and assume the answer must be two. But the more you think about it, the more you realize that the shirt itself already has openings that serve as functional holes. The neck area, the two sleeves, and the bottom hem are all technically holes too. The challenge is to decide what really counts as one. Should the term refer only to accidental tears, or should it include every designed opening that lets something pass through?

This is where the puzzle becomes interesting. It forces people to question their assumptions about physical structure and perception. Some see a “hole” only as damage in the fabric, while others think of it as any continuous empty space that goes through an object. The image of the orange shirt cleverly blends both ideas, prompting the viewer to choose between a literal or a conceptual definition.

Listing the possibilities helps clarify the reasoning process. There are the two ripped areas in front, clearly visible and irregular. Then there is the round opening for the neck, the two sleeve holes, and the wide opening at the bottom of the shirt. That makes five standard features plus the two tears, which would total seven. However, because the two rips go all the way through both layers of fabric, they actually count as two complete holes, visible from front and back. When you account for that, most people settle on six as the most accurate total. Counting only the tears gives two. Counting only the designed garment openings gives four. Combining both sets gives six, while those who want to include imagined hidden or mirrored spaces sometimes stretch the answer to eight, though that interpretation is less common and often used humorously.

Most fans of this riddle agree that six is the most logical conclusion. This approach treats a hole as any full opening that passes through the shirt, whether created intentionally or accidentally. From a geometric point of view, a true hole should connect one side to another, allowing light or air to pass through. That concept explains why both the tears and the functional openings are valid.

Beyond the puzzle’s reasoning, part of its charm lies in the playful “personality” meanings often attached to each answer. People who pick two are seen as literal, straightforward, and focused on surface details. Those who choose four are often described as practical thinkers who follow established rules. Picking six suggests someone who balances logic with creativity, willing to consider multiple perspectives. Choosing eight is presented as a sign of imagination and unconventional thinking. Of course, these interpretations are meant for entertainment rather than psychological evaluation.

The viral post’s mention of narcissism is just clickbait designed to encourage comments and sharing. The puzzle itself does not reveal personality traits or emotional tendencies. Instead, it highlights how perception and reasoning differ from one person to another. What makes this simple image engaging is the way it encourages discussion, debate, and even laughter over a seemingly trivial question. In the end, whether your answer is 2, 4, 6, or 8, the real takeaway is that people look at the same picture through very different lenses, revealing the variety and creativity of human thought.