Narcissists are skilled manipulators who use various tactics to confuse and control their victims. Their goal is to maintain power and dominance over others while fulfilling their own emotional needs for admiration and validation. Here are some ways narcissists confuse their victims:
Love Bombing: At the beginning of a relationship, narcissists often engage in intense love bombing, showering their victims with excessive affection, compliments, and attention. This overwhelming display of affection can create an emotional bond and make the victim feel special and cherished.
Idealization and Devaluation: After the love bombing phase, the narcissist may start to idealize the victim, treating them as the perfect partner. However, this idealization is often short-lived, and the narcissist will eventually start devaluing the victim, criticizing and demeaning them. This cycle of idealization and devaluation can leave the victim confused about the narcissist's true feelings and intentions.
Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic used by narcissists to make their victims doubt their perception of reality. They may deny things they previously said or did, reinterpret events, or twist the truth to make the victim question their memory, sanity, or judgment.
Projection: Narcissists often project their negative traits and behaviors onto others. They accuse their victims of the very things they are guilty of, deflecting blame and making the victim feel responsible for the problems in the relationship.
Triangulation: Narcissists may involve a third person, such as an ex-partner or a close friend, to create jealousy, competition, or insecurity in the victim. This tactic aims to make the victim feel inadequate and keep them on edge.
Silent Treatment: When the victim doesn't comply with the narcissist's demands or challenges their behavior, the narcissist may employ the silent treatment. They withdraw emotionally and refuse to communicate, leaving the victim feeling anxious, confused, and desperate for their attention and validation.
Manipulative Ploys: Narcissists are skilled at using various manipulative ploys to gain control. They might play the victim, create guilt or sympathy, or use emotional blackmail to get what they want.
Scapegoating: In a family setting, a narcissistic parent may scapegoat one of their children, blaming them for all family problems and treating them as the cause of their own shortcomings. This can confuse and emotionally harm the scapegoated child.
Love-Hate Dynamics: Narcissists can swing between showing love and affection to expressing anger and hostility without warning. This rollercoaster of emotions leaves the victim uncertain about where they stand and what to expect from the narcissist.
The confusion caused by these manipulative tactics can leave victims feeling emotionally vulnerable, dependent on the narcissist, and trapped in a toxic cycle of abuse