Narcissists love to hurt people. They abuse others because they can.
They get away with it because other people let them. (These folks are called the “enablers” and I have very little sympathy for these weak-willed onlookers.)
It might appear as if narcissists strike at random. But they don’t. Typically, they choose their victims very carefully. They always need a victim. When they’re done with one, they move on to the next. But there’s a method to their madness.
Make no mistake. Narcissists are very mad. They’re sick in the head. That’s a given. Normal healthy people don’t go out of their way to harm others. In some ways, malignant narcissism is very similar to sociopathy. Even though a narcissist may not physically murder anyone, they kill them in other ways. All of this is done without apparent guilt. Lying and deception are part of the package too.
But, anyway, from my perspective, narcissists are pretty methodical when it comes to picking targets. They often choose people who threaten them. Targets may be smarter, they may be kinder (a given) or they may be more popular.
Why Did the Narcissist Choose Me?
Another given is that the battle is basically already won, before it starts. A narcissist won’t strike unless she knows victory is certain. (Narcissists can be either male or female. The stereotype casts them as male. But I hope to shatter this myth as much as possible by shedding light on adult female bullies. That’s why I often use the pronoun “she.”)
But, anyway, one reason you are targeted is because you lack a strong social support system. At least in that particular setting.
For instance, you may have a wide circle of loyal friends outside the office. But they won’t help you when the office bully wages war.
Being the Target of a Narcissist
Or, you once did have a lot of friends at work. However, in recent months, things haven’t been the same. You don’t feel comfortable in the office lunchroom anymore .Even worse, you’re being left out of the loop on information, needed to do your job.
In both of these situations, there’s a common theme. You don’t have the social supports to withstand an attack. The narcissist knows this. He or she would never consider attacking otherwise. In the second scenario, it’s also highly like the abuser destroyed your office friendships, so you’d be left with no defense. This is done by spreading gossip, innuendo and lies.
Who Do Narcissists Prey On?
Please note that I’m not a licensed therapist. I write this article from the perspective of personal experience only. Because I was so shocked and surprised by what happened to me, I spent a fair amount of time researching the mysterious phenomenon of malignant narcissism. So read this post with that in mind. All opinions are my own. Mental health professionals may or may not agree with what I’m writing.
For me, it was good to learn that people with this disorder are pretty predictable. If you’ve met one malicious narcissist, it’s almost as if you’ve met them all.
Highly competitive my nature, they don’t seem happy unless they’re abusing. They generally always need a target. They choose their targets for various reasons, envy, spite, usefulness, etc.
One a target is selected, a narcissist wages an all-out war. The goal is total destruction. He or she wants to destroy your life.
Who Does a Narcissist Target?
Regardless of the reasons, a narcissist won’t strike unless he or she is sure the target will be decimated. In order to “succeed,” they do a lot of legwork. Amazingly, they will work behind the scenes for years, if that’s what it takes.
Early on, they shower you with flattery. This ensures you’ll stay close. They also encourage you to open up and spill your soul. (There’s nothing more dangerous than spilling your soul to a narcissist. Any and all information you share will be used against you. Even innocent information can be twisted into something sinister.)
The early relationship is all about grooming. This is when a narcissist probes your soul. They assess your strengths and weaknesses. So, later on, they’re armed and ready.
How Do Narcissists Choose Their Victims
Eventually, the relationship moves toward the discard phase. Before you’re aware that anything is really wrong, you notice a litle “moodiness.” Disordered people come on strong at first. They shower you with praise, Then, this begins to dry up. Now, it vacilates between praise and criticism.
The next step is discard, full throttle. The idea is to dump you. But not before your social supports are destroyed. Remember, a narcissist won’t strike unless the battle is won. This means choosing someone without a strong defense network. (Or, if this exists, they attempt to destroy it.)
How Does a Narcissist Choose His Victims?
The narcissist wants to destroy your life. But he can’t do a thing, as long as other people have your back. That’s why it’s so important to neutralize your social network.
This is generally done over time. One thing to remember is that a narcissist will plot for as long as it takes. Even for years, if that’s what they need.
But how do they get once “loyal” friends to turn against you?
Unfortunately, many people are weak-willed and easily led. No one wants to be an outsider, even grownups. So the narcissist makes it known (either overtly or covertly) that you’ll be left out of the loop if you support the target.
Also, the narcissist convinced people you’re not worthy of their support. This is done by destroying your reputation, with lies. Oftentimes, these are mixed in with little bits of truth. So people fall for it. Typically, the narcissist plays the victim. She accuses you of exactly what she’s doing. So the enablers often believe you’re a bad person. However, this doesn’t totally let them off the hook. As adults, these enablers should have the critical thinking skills to see past the lies.
Being The Target of a Narcissist
Narcissists are found everywhere people congregate. So abuse can happen in a workplace, social or family setting.
Actually, it’s been documented that narcissistic personality disorders have reached epidemic levels. This may be one reason we now hear so much about adult bullies.Simply because it appears there are more of them nowadays than in the past.
Unfortunately, workplace bullying seems to be at an all time high. An estimated one-third of workers in the United States report being bullied on the job, according to the Workplace Bullying Institute. Typically, this results in job loss for the target. (Remember what I said earlier about total destruction? That’s what the narcissist in your life is going for.)
Why The Narcissist Picked You
It appears as if the bully chose you because you possess a certain set of traits. The good news is that targets are often nice people who go out of their way to help others. Sometimes, they’re also known as “empaths.”
Dr. Ronald Riggio, PhD., wrote in a post published in Psychology Today that adult bullies generally target people who are nice, competent and try to get along with others. They also choose targets because they’re “socially isolated.”
In my personal experience, I’ve noticed that if you aren’t socially isolated at the outset, you will be once active adult narcissistic bullying gets under way.
The good news is that the narcissist most likely saw some qualities she liked, and wanted them herself. Because of her inflated sense of entitlement, she went to unethical lengths to obtain them.
When the Narcissist Leaves You Alone
The good news is that eventually, a narcissist will move on. He or she enjoys sticking around as long as you’re suffering. For some reason, narcs seem to have uncanny ability to size people up and anticipate their next move. They will leave you alone as soon as they believe they’ve caused enough destruction. (And they will, as long as you let them.)
Narcissists also do a disappearing act once they realize you’re in control again. They like to pick on people who are down. Once you pick yourself up, and move forward, they often lose interest. Malignant narcissists have a sadistic streak. They derive pleasure from watching targets suffer. Seeing the target doing well is no longer “fun.”
One word of caution though. If a narcissist feels as if he or she is losing their grip, they adopt a new strategy. You may see the early “love bombing” stage all over again. Don’t fall for it.
For More Reading on Malignant Narcissisms
Visit my blog page on NARCISSISM AND YOUR HEALTH. Narcissistic abuse is the cause of so much physical and mental stress that I feel I need to include information about this disorder my my natural healty site.
Disclaimer
I’m not a mental health professional. Everything you read is my personal opinion only.
Help
I’m with a narcissistic and can’t get away I believe he fits everything your saying. I’m petrified.
Mary, I’m not a therapist and I can’t give professional advice or tell people what to do. I would seek out the most competent female therapist you can find and go from there. Therapists hear this kind of stuff all the time and they can guide you. Best of luck. I will keep you in my prayers.
I’m grappling with my eldest narc sister who is 10 years older. I never really “knew” her growing up b/c she was out of the house by 16. I recalled is she was rebellious and my father was quite harsh to her and my other older siblings (I have 5 older siblings and one younger). (I believe my father was a narc as well). Fast forward years and she found God when she was 30. She shared what she knew with me (I was 19 and impressionable but I believed that her new belief was truth and still do to this day – we, in fact, belong to the same faith now, though no one else in my family ever wanted to hear it). I moved in with her at her house shortly after and that was the start of the abuse. She saw me as someone who would do her bidding, pay half of the rent (she could split a penny in half and if I didn’t pay that half a penny, she would write it down until I paid her) while having no rights as a tenant and she complained to all her friends about me… long story short, we fought all the time. I felt I couldn’t leave b/c I wouldn’t make it on my own without her. And she would always tell me I need a psychiatrist to ‘fix’ me (and she would help that to happen). Finally, I broke away and moved out after 4 years. She then met/targeted a guy 10 years younger and married him (also from the same faith and a family who was popular in the congregation). Fast forward another 10 years and this is where the real crazy began for me. My father and mother became in need of assistance with bill payment and helping with an uncle’s affairs, my father asked me since I was local and worked at a law firm- (she in the meantime had moved across country to become a missionary). As I was talking with her, she wanted to know what was in my dad’s bank account. I suggested she ask my father (he was very competent on that end) and that was the beginning of the end. Without my realizing it, I really set off the beast in her. She screamed at me, how dare I not tell her, to the point where I broke down and told her and apologized. After that, my relationships with those friends who she was still connected with in my local congregation all of a sudden shunned me and would no longer invite me to their parties and would not befriend me. I was absolutely devastated, confused. I called her on the carpet that I knew she was trying to pit me against our friends. She cried and how much she loved me. But then for the next 12 years, it was silent treatment while she gained the affection of another older sister (very jealous, narcissist as well) and ganged up on me. (they are like the wicked stepsisters on Cinderella). I explained this to my father who said they are jealous and that he did not want me sharing information. (Yes but that isn’t helping me dad.). We still belonged to the same faith but she hated me to the point that I felt, if I could be stoned to death that would’ve pleased her. That is how scary she became to me. Now fast forward another 10 years and my father passes and I come down with breast cancer. She wants to be my “friend” again. After the funeral, she apologizes to me in front of my family (which I didn’t see coming) – it was quick and as I was heading out the door she said “sorry about the past” while she hugged me. I looked at her (thinking, is this a plot?) and so I said “me too” even though I know I did nothing to her. (And thinking really?? This is how she’s choosing to do it?). Now she is sending me gifts to become my friend, she has called me several times, both of which were to discuss my father’s estate/mom’s affairs.
Because we are Christians and especially of the same faith, I am supposed to forgive her. But I grapple with it because in her mind, she will think she can control me. I am finding it hard to call her to thank her for her recent gift because I feel this is where the black widow’s spider web will get me caught. (She sent me a homemade bracelet)
Any advice? I want to but feel I need to tread so carefully. Very scary. Other friends of mine do see it in her but that’s all they have ever said.
I have prayed for help, but I feel if have PTSD and am scared of a repeat nightmare if I don’t do her bidding. She will try to turn others against me. I don’t know how she sleeps at night trying to ruin another human being. I know deep down she is jealous and hungry for control. Sorry for the lengthy message. I know I need help. I need to deal with her but I am very anxious over it.
Hi Marie, I’m so sorry all of this has happened to you. I can’t give a ton of advice because I’m not a therapist. But if it were me, I’d have a difficult time trusting her again. I don’t think forgiveness means we allow people access to our lives, in a way that they can hurt us again. Would it be possible to have a very limited relationship, if you really think she’s changed? As far as the people from church, I know we all want to have a nice church community. But sometimes I don’t think this is possible nowadays, because of the documented rise in narcissism. People with personality disorders love religious communities. That doesn’t mean we should stop going to church. It just means we need to be really careful about what we share. Even very innocent information can be twisted into something sinister. I think your instincts are right, to be very cautious. Those people she’ll try to turn against you aren’t worth it. It might be a good idea to develop good relationships outside of this particular religious community. Religious shunning is cult-like behavior. I know this from first-hand experience.
Those friends of hers that shunned me ended up eventually apologizing but our relationship was never the same and was always uncomfortable for me. I would like to believe my sister has changed to a degree but I will trust my instincts and deal as limited as possible. My gut tells me she thinks I’m now in a weak point in my life since I was being treated for breast cancer. Of course I was and am at times saddened. But that she made a point to apologize in front of everyone (esp in front my other narc sis) after the funeral and her words were so carefully chosen and vague gave me a tip off that it wasn’t sincere. (Though I do believe she knows deep down she was wrong but wants no accountability). We are not perfect people and God loves her too. I even prayed for her at times (as hard as that was). My gut deep down tells me she’s more interested in micromanaging my mom’s financial affairs from across the country to be sure she can end up with an inheritance more so than making sure my mom has the best care (and at my and others physical expense as opposed to hiring someone) while she jet sets on her vacations and enjoys her life from afar, and she is trying to soften me with her gifts to do her bidding. I hate to put such a motive on her but this is what my gut tells me and my past experience. I thank you for your insight into this personality disorder and your comment and listening. Your pamphlet hit the head on the nail. In fact, I would often think of my other narc sister as my eldest sister’s flying monkey!Narcissism really is an epidemic. The bible says we would see this trait in people at 2Timothy3:1-5. It’s important to examine ourselves to be sure those traits aren’t being influenced in us too. Thank you again for your help.