If you’ve spent any time on social media, you’ve likely come across memes that promise to reveal profound truths about your personality based on how you interpret a quick visual puzzle. One particularly popular meme features a grid-like arrangement of squares, with a caption proclaiming, “The number of squares you see will reveal your greatest flaw.” With a simple instruction: “Count how many squares you see!”, this viral image promises to diagnose your most significant flaw in seconds.
It’s compelling. It’s entertaining. It’s shareable. But does it actually have any basis in psychology or personality theory? This article delves into the nature of these memes, examining the historical context of visual illusions, how our brains process shapes, and why we’re so eager to believe that a single puzzle can reveal our “biggest flaw.” Along the way, we’ll explore the psychology behind self-assessment, discuss the pitfalls of oversimplifying complex human traits, and highlight more reliable paths to true self-discovery.
At over 5,000 words, this article aims to offer a comprehensive overview of the topic, from the brain’s perceptual shortcuts to the cultural hunger for instant self-knowledge. Ultimately, you’ll discover that while memes can be a fun distraction, they’re hardly a substitute for meaningful self-reflection or legitimate psychological insight.
2. What is this meme about?
The meme in question is simple. It typically shows a square divided into multiple smaller squares. At first glance, you might see 4 or 9 squares, but upon closer inspection, you might spot more: perhaps 16, 18, or even more if you count the overlapping formations. Some versions of the meme vary the arrangement, but the essence remains the same: a set of lines forming multiple squares.
Next to or above the image is the bold statement: “The number of squares you see will reveal your biggest flaw.” It then provides a quick breakdown:
If you see X number of squares, you are impulsive.
If you see Y number of squares, you are too sensitive.
If you see Z number of squares, you are arrogant.
Or some other set of “diagnoses” that claim to capture your greatest flaw. The exact numbers and “flaws” may vary from version to version, but the core idea remains the same: how you visually process this puzzle supposedly indicates something deep and specific about your personality.
Of course, it’s easy to understand why an image like this goes viral. It’s interactive (people have to count the squares), it promises personal insights, and it invites social comparison (“How many squares did you see?”). But as we’ll see, the leap from “how many squares” to “your biggest flaw” is enormous, and it’s not supported by any real psychological science.
3. A Brief History of Visual Puzzles and Illusions
Visual puzzles and illusions have fascinated humanity for centuries. Ancient Greek philosophers, such as Aristotle, questioned the nature of perception and how our senses could deceive us. Over the centuries, artists, mathematicians, and scientists have developed increasingly sophisticated methods to demonstrate that what we see is not always what we think.
3.1 The Role of Geometry in Optical Illusions
Geometric illusions have always been a popular subset. Lines, shapes, and angles can be arranged in ways that confuse our sense of perspective, scale, or continuity. For example:
The Müller-Lyer illusion uses arrow-like lines to make two identical line segments appear to be of different lengths.
The Kanizsa Square creates the illusion of a glowing square that is not actually outlined, but only suggested by the strategically placed “Pac-Man” shapes.
Similarly, puzzles that ask us to count shapes, be they triangles, squares, or circles, rely on the fact that our brains often struggle to keep track of multiple overlapping or nested objects.
3.2 Popularization in the 20th Century
In the 20th century, magazines and newspapers frequently published “count the shapes” puzzles for entertainment purposes. These puzzles were usually presented as brain teasers rather than personality tests. The internet age amplified these illusions, transforming them into viral content capable of spreading rapidly through social media platforms.
Thus, the “count the squares” meme is part of a long tradition of visual puzzles. What’s new is the claim that your perception directly reveals a profound character flaw, a claim that blends puzzle tradition with pop psychology.
4. Why We’re Drawn to Shape-Counting Challenges
Visual puzzles, especially those involving shape counting, tap into several aspects of human psychology:
Curiosity: We want to know if we can find all the shapes: there is an element of challenge and competition.
