The purpose of narcissistic abuse is primarily to exert control and maintain power over the victim. Narcissistic abuse is a pattern of harmful behaviors and manipulation used by individuals with narcissistic traits or Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) to dominate, manipulate, and exploit their victims emotionally, psychologically, and sometimes even physically.
The key purposes of narcissistic abuse are:
Control and Dominance: Narcissists seek to establish control over their victims to satisfy their own needs for power and superiority. They want to be in charge of the relationship and ensure that their desires and demands are met without question.
Validation and Admiration: Narcissists have an insatiable need for admiration and validation. They abuse others to maintain their grandiose self-image and to ensure that they receive constant attention and praise.
Ego Boost: Abusing others can serve as an ego boost for narcissists, making them feel more powerful, superior, and in control. They may derive a sense of pleasure or satisfaction from manipulating and hurting others.
Avoiding Criticism: Narcissists have a fragile self-esteem and cannot handle criticism or rejection well. By abusing others, they attempt to protect themselves from any perceived threats to their self-image.
Isolating the Victim: Narcissists may use abuse as a means to isolate their victims from friends, family, or support networks. By doing so, they increase their control over the victim, making them more reliant on the narcissist and less likely to seek help or escape the abusive situation.
Projection of Insecurities: Narcissists often project their own insecurities and negative traits onto their victims. By doing so, they shift the blame and avoid confronting their own flaws or shortcomings.
Triangulation: Narcissists may create conflict or competition among individuals, including their victims, to keep them off-balance and maintain control over the situation.
Emotional Manipulation: Narcissists are skilled emotional manipulators. They may use guilt, fear, gaslighting, and other tactics to confuse, disorient, and emotionally exhaust their victims.
It's crucial to recognize that narcissistic abuse is harmful and damaging to the victims. The victims of narcissistic abuse often experience significant emotional and psychological trauma, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and a sense of helplessness. If you or someone you know is experiencing narcissistic abuse, seeking help from a mental health professional or support group can be essential in breaking free from the cycle of abuse and beginning the healing process.