Narcissists often perceive strong, resilient, and educated Empaths as a challenge to their control and manipulation. Let's break down how they might view each of these traits:
Strong: Narcissists prefer individuals they can easily dominate and manipulate. When faced with someone strong, who has a clear sense of self and boundaries, the narcissist may feel threatened. They may attempt to undermine the person's confidence or create situations that exploit any vulnerabilities they can find.
Resilient: Narcissists thrive on exerting power and control over others, and they may interpret resilience as resistance. Empaths who can bounce back from their manipulative tactics might be seen as more difficult to break down and control. In response, a narcissist might intensify their efforts to erode the empath's emotional strength or provoke emotional reactions to gain a sense of power.
Educated: Empaths who are well-informed and educated may be better equipped to recognize the narcissist's manipulative tactics and see through their facade. A narcissist might feel their usual tactics are less effective on someone who is more aware and knowledgeable about their behavior. Consequently, they may try to discredit or belittle the empath's intelligence or use other tactics to maintain their dominance.
Overall, a narcissist is likely to perceive strong, resilient, and educated Empaths as a threat to their self-importance and control over the relationship. Consequently, they may intensify their manipulative behavior or even engage in a cycle of idealization and devaluation to keep the empath off balance and emotionally dependent on them. It's essential for strong empaths to recognize these patterns and set firm boundaries to protect themselves from potential harm in such relationships.