Dirty Tricks With Which Narcissists, Sociopaths, and Psychopaths Manipulate Us

Destructive people often exhibit inappropriate behavior in relationships, insisting on exploiting, humiliating, and betraying their partners.

They use many methods, able to misinform the sacrifice and pass on all the blame to it, to avoid any responsibility. Narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths usually use these methods.

Here are 10 dirty methods specific to them, with the help of which they manipulate and humiliate us.

Gaslighting

Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse that stands out with the phrases "It wasn't like that," "Do you think so," "Are you crazy?"

It is one of the most treacherous methods of manipulation, as it tends to destroy one's sense of reality. As a result, you stop trusting yourself, you doubt what you are saying. You automatically side with the one who blames you. The manipulator will try to convince you that he is not wrong and that what he is saying is your own emotion.

It is important to find support in your reality.

Projection

Projection is when the person does not want to see his shortcomings and uses any means to avoid responsibility. It is a defensive, protective mechanism used to eliminate responsibility for bad character traits. In this way, the manipulator does not admit his guilt.

In the case of narcissists, projection becomes a form of psychological violence. Instead of acknowledging their shortcomings, they blame anyone for making the sacrifices ashamed of what happened. For example, an employee may call his or her boss inefficient.

The solution? Don't accept that man's thoughts and expressions.

Useless discussions

If you think that logical communication with a destructive person is possible, you are wrong. You're just going to fill your brain with nonsense. Narcissists and sociopaths use communication to confuse everything in your head, to change the subject, to discredit and force the other person to feel guilty. For them, the problem is your existence.

One minute of discussion is enough to realize the communicative chaos that the interlocutor transmits. You simply disagreed.

Remember: destructive people do not communicate with you, they communicate with themselves. They love drama and live for it. It is important not to feed the "lust" of narcissists, it is good to feed your thoughts with the idea that the problem is not in you.

Voice beliefs

Narcissists are not always proud of their intellectual abilities - many of them don't even think about it. Instead of wasting time, they generalize, ignoring your arguments. In this way they focus on one aspect of the discussion, refusing to discuss really important things.

For example, when you accuse a narcissist of being wrong, he immediately comes up with the reply, "You're always unhappy!" Don't give up, avoid generalization.

Turning your thoughts and emotions into nonsense

In the hands of a narcissist or a sociopath, your different beliefs or plot worries turn into the shortcomings of your character. A narcissist paraphrases everything you say. This allows him to revoke your right to speak. Destructive people feel like they can read your mind. They make hasty conclusions, instead of understanding.

They blame you for what you think is inappropriate, even before you remark. The best way to set a limit in your discussion is to say, "I didn't say that!" and stop communicating.

Bullying and changing the rules of the game

The difference between constructive and destructive criticism is the presence or absence of personal attacks. These "critics" are not meant to help you get better - they just like to make fun of you.

Sociopaths use the so-called "change of the rules of the game" when, even when you present them with enough evidence, they find other arguments to blame you. Do you have a successful career? The narcissist will laugh, wondering why you're not a millionaire yet?

The rules of the game will change permanently as long as the narcissist arranges. He always has expectations from you, and you always have to meet them.

Do not accept this change of rules. If someone relates to an issue, regardless of your evidence, it means that they do not intend to understand you. Avoid it, ignore it!

Changing the subject to avoid liability

It's simple: the destructive man wants you to focus on what's unimportant and irresponsible. Are you blaming him for not being with you? He will remind you of the mistake you made seven years ago. It's a sure way to break the conversation. A concrete approach is needed to solve the problem, which is not found in the discussion with a narcissist.

Do not deviate from the subject: if someone tries to convince you that you are wrong, present the evidence again and again.

Hidden and obvious dangers

Narcissists do not feel comfortable when their belief that they are the best falls into doubt. If in response to your attempt to express your opinion you receive only reproaches and threats, be sure that there is a narcissist in front of you, sure that everyone is indebted to him.

Insults

A narcissist will respond aggressively to every attempt to fix it. Only they are right, only they are right. And when no one listens to them, they attack.

I insult without assuming what he says, he insults both the person and his statements. Insult is a simple way to bring down a person, it is used to criticize beliefs, opinions, ideas.

Without having arguments to attack your claims, a narcissist attacks you directly. Don't take this seriously.

"Training"

Destructive people are accustomed to teaching you to associate your strengths with disrespect and disappointment. Thus, they do not allow you to assert yourself and prove that you are right. They can even isolate you from friends, from acquaintances, thus guiding your choices. Thus, they practically force you to orient yourself towards them, to satisfy their expectations.

If you feel that you have nothing in common with someone, that they are trying to humiliate you by any means, turn your back on them and leave.

In addition to these manipulative methods, there are others: gossip, pursuit, bombardment with love, preventive defense, bait and claim that he is innocent, checking limits, the technique of emotional "vacuuming", aggressive stings in the form of jokes, excessive sarcasm, aggressive tone, a humiliation in public, control: all aim at humiliation and domination.

The more destructive people have power over your emotions, the harder it is for you to trust your feelings. Learn these methods of manipulation and avoid people who apply them.