Put your hand up to them, tell them to be quiet, and walk away. The best way to deal with a narcissist is to not engage with them at all or as little as possible. Hearing those things is hurtful because you might believe what they are saying so it's important that you work on your self-esteem and confidence.
A helpful response when you're feeling baited is to repeat the other person's statement or question. Another option is to amplify what the other person said if it was negative. Finally, humor can be one of the most effective strategies for dealing with bait.
The narcissist “baits” their victim by purposely doing or saying things to annoy or taunt them. They may also do it in order to get their victim to do what they want. They would often use baiting as a way to continually assert their power and superiority in the relationship.
If you are in the devaluation stage with them, start reacting calmly or walking away to what they do. If you are in the discard phase, stop trying to contact them. Ponder why they discarded you and take note of how they trap you in this pattern.
Baiting is a manipulation tactic that occurs when a narcissist says or does something manipulative such as exploiting your insecurities, being passive-aggressive, or even abusing your loved ones, to get you to engage in a negative interaction with them.
Narcissism comprises feelings of grandiosity, a sense of entitlement, and a desire for respect and admiration.
First, they want to prevent you from setting a boundary with them. Second, they want to feel superior by making you upset and angry. Third, they want to bait you into a confrontation so they can victimize themselves. Fourth, they want more narcissistic supply.
It occurs when they use your vulnerabilities and insecurities against you to try to manipulate you into a negative confrontation. It is important to develop healthy responses to baiting because if you don't, it gives the narcissist a significant amount of power and control over you.
Breadcrumbing is when a person gives someone just enough attention to "string them along." The purpose of breadcrumbing for a narcissist is to give them an ego boost. Responding to breadcrumbing signals that one is available for "narcissistic supply."
Manipulative people, like narcissists, can hook their victims in with a tactic called "love bombing." It's the stage of the relationship where they identify their target, then make them feel like the most special person in the world by showering them with compliments, affection, and gifts.
"It's a power play, form of regulation. It's an entry point into gaslighting," Durvasula says, warning that while baiting can be annoying, it can become a dangerous precursor to narcissistic and emotional abuse.
In social engineering terms, baiting is a tactic in which a perpetrator provides a link (the bait) that piques the user's curiosity or appeals to their desire for money or power.
The most common form of baiting uses physical media to disperse malware. For example, attackers leave the bait of a malware-infected flash drives in conspicuous areas where potential victims are certain to see them.
They demand respect, and give none in return. For a narcissist, their needs must always be put first, and they will never reciprocate those feelings for anyone else. The world revolves around them, and everyone who happens to be part of that world should go along with it.
For someone with narcissism, they fantasize about having unlimited power, success, beauty, and love. They see things in extremes. Everything is over the top and they deserve the best of everything. By having unlimited success, power, brilliance, or love, they can maintain the belief they are superior to others.
He doesn't want you to know you are lovable and have power in the relationship. Your narcissist wants you to feel small, unlovable, powerless, and without value. This is how he controls you.
Baiting is an emotionally manipulative tactic. Often, someone who baits you wants you to get mad at them so they can turn around and play the innocent victim. When you recognize bait for what it is, you're less likely to let that person have control over your emotions.
They Face a Setback, Disappointment, or Conflict
A narcissist can become easily enraged if a setback occurs in their life, job, or relationship. Not getting their way results in both a loss of control and a bruised ego.
There's nothing a narcissist fears more than being left alone. Block their phone number, unfriend them on social media, and don't even acknowledge their presence if you're ever in the same room with one another. This won't just scare a narcissist—it will devastate them.