Remember that narcissists often have very low self-esteem. One of the easiest ways to feel better and avoid self-reflection (if only temporarily) is to cut others down if they can't control them. Especially those who point out their harmful, often immature behavior.
It may appear in different forms, but all are about divide and conquer, or playing people against each other. It is a highly effective strategy to gain an advantage over perceived rivals by manipulating them into conflicts with one another.
Narcissistic friends may demand that you spend more time with them, end other relationships, or even try to turn you and your other friends against each other.
Because other people don't exist for them, narcissists have difficulty dealing with independence. They see others as a reflection of themselves. Or, as a means to fulfill their own goals. This leads to narcissists controlling those around them.
Narcissists are happy to spread rumors and lies—even if they know the stories aren't true. When they realize they can't control you anymore, they'll may decide to punish you by ruining your reputation or turning people against you.
Key points. Narcissistic bullies can be very aggressive in their bullying behavior and don't restrain themselves the way that most people do. They often will attack their target's self-esteem in order to dominate them, which can lead to self-doubts that immobilize their target.
They Feel a Loss of Control
If the narcissist feels like they are losing control of the situation, a rage fit allows them to regain power over those around them.
In other words, the only people who can stand being friends with narcissists are other narcissists.
In order to deal with the problem, it's important to be able to recognize the signs of being married to a narcissist. One of the first things a narcissist does it isolate you from family and friends. They want you to be completely dependent on them and eliminate any support system you have in place.
Many narcissists react badly to boundaries or violate them entirely. One of the reasons narcissists overstep boundaries is because it allows them to hold themselves accountable for any wrongdoing they may have caused, something they intensely dislike!
Ignoring their bait can help starve a narcissist of the attention they seek. Take a deep breath, pause, and control your curiosity to avoid giving them the satisfaction that they have control over you.
They turn the story around to make it seem like you are at fault, deflecting attention and blame away from them to make you feel guilty. This type of emotional manipulation is called gaslighting.
Vindictive narcissists tend to hold onto grudges, often feel anger and resentment, and find ways to seek revenge against people who they feel wronged by.
Narcissists tend to be incapable of something called "object constancy," which means they struggle to have positive feelings at the same time as negative ones. Once they are fired up for a fight, they can be incredibly cruel, because all they can comprehend in the moment are feelings of resentment and anger.
Low self-worth/confidence/esteem is at the core of a narcissism. This low sense of self naturally makes it extremely easy for them to become jealous – very jealous. And not just about anyone potentially interested in you romantically, but anyone or anything that can take the focus off of them.
Blames, projects, and guilt-trips.
They might also belittle their friend by pointing out their flaws in front of others, taking a minor infraction and turning it into a major event, and highlighting intelligence gaps so the narcissist looks superior. Yet others have not verbalized any such complaints about the friend.
They are hostile and vindictive. They also have trouble understanding right from wrong, causing them to easily hurt others without feeling guilty. Narcissists with a malignant streak are also aggressive, manipulative, dishonest, abusive, and sadistic at times. They're easily angered and ready to take revenge.
At the center of a narcissist's destructive behavior towards others is an excessive sense of entitlement. Narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths believe that the world owes them something.
Type As can also be dangerous to narcissists
Although they can be targeted, type A people can also become a narcissist's worst nightmare. One of the most important defenses against dark personalities is having strong boundaries yourself, and type A people are usually aware they have the right to build them.