At first glance, the image looks simple enough: a few colorful triangles stacked like a child’s geometric toy. But the longer you look, the more that simplicity falls apart.

Some people count 9 triangles, others see 13, and some spot more than 20. And what if this visual puzzle wasn’t just about math… but also about psychology?

When perception shapes our reality

This optical illusion, which has gone viral on social media, is based on a simple idea: our brain doesn’t analyze shapes — it interprets them. The figure looks like it’s made up of small, separate triangles, but depending on how you connect the lines and colors, it can turn into a pyramid, a mosaic, or an endless puzzle.

This is what we call Gestalt perception: our mind naturally tries to organize elements in a way that gives them meaning. In other words, this test reveals less about your observational skills and more about how you perceive the world.

If you see 9 triangles

You’re the pragmatic type. You notice the essentials without getting lost in the details. You like clarity, logic, and simplicity. In both life and work, you prefer going straight to the point rather than making things more complicated than they need to be.

But be careful — by focusing too much on the essentials, you might miss subtle nuances or quieter emotions. Your strength? You’re steady, grounded, and able to stay level-headed even when everyone else is scattered.

If you see between 13 and 16 triangles

You’re one of the balanced ones. You know how to juggle analysis and intuition. You notice the details while keeping a big-picture view, and you can “read between the lines” without drifting into overthinking.

People like you tend to be empathetic, curious, and naturally good at diplomacy. You understand others without getting overwhelmed by their emotions. In short, you’ve struck a healthy balance between heart and mind.

If you see more than 20 triangles

Welcome to the imaginative camp! You connect shapes, create hidden patterns, and see possibilities where others see only lines. Your creativity is overflowing, and your mind loves to analyze, decode, and reinvent.

But this is where the popular myth comes in: “the more triangles you see, the more narcissistic you are.” In reality, it’s not narcissism in the strict sense, but rather a strong confidence in your own perception. You believe you’re right — and sometimes you struggle to accept other viewpoints. It can be a strength when kept in check, because it reflects a powerful mind and a limitless imagination.

What this test really reveals

These so-called “personality illusions” aren’t diagnoses — they’re small exercises in introspection. They highlight how we think, how we connect elements, and how we make sense of what we see.

So whether you counted 9, 15, or 27 triangles, the real point isn’t the number… but the way your mind interprets them. Are you more drawn to order or creation? To logic or imagination?

And maybe, deep down, this little colorful drawing is nothing more than a playful mirror of our own inner complexity.