Deceptive Pseudo-Intimacy and Love Bombing
Narcissists excel at deception, particularly in pseudo intimacy. They craft an illusion of love and connection through a tactic known as love bombing. Additionally, they showcase adeptness in the art of listening and fake empathy, a fundamental aspect of building trust and understanding. However, due to their fragile self-esteem, narcissists make the entire listening experience about themselves. They gain narcissistic supply just from you choosing to open up to them, carefully observing your thoughts, behaviors, and patterns to manipulate, control, and wield power over you.
Manipulative Listening, Not Empathy
It’s important to understand that narcissists’ listening skills aren’t driven by empathy or a genuine desire to understand others. Unlike empathetic communicators, narcissists exploit listening purely to refine manipulation techniques. Their focus lies solely on enhancing their manipulation skills, deceiving, and fabricating a false sense of intimacy to assert dominance over you. Their ability to gaslight, dismiss, and invalidate you at a moment’s notice contradicts their initial display of empathetic understanding.
The Illusion of Being Heard
Have you ever experienced the uplifting sensation that follows being truly heard? It is a powerful, invigorating and affirming feeling, leaving you feeling mirrored, connected, validated, and understood. But narcissists, lacking empathy, only pretend to listen deeply. They can only listen and appear as if they heard you with their mind, body, and spirit. Narcissists exploit this vulnerability, using it as a tool to ensnare their victims. Similar to predators like alligators or snakes, they slowly encroach on their prey, appearing attentive and caring as they inch closer for the eventual strike – the capture.
The bond, relationship, or intimacy crafted by a narcissist is nothing more than a façade. They mirror and mimic your desires and traits to serve their own agenda, devoid of genuine connection or emotional depth. One of the ways you can always tell if you’re in the presence of a narcissist and or sociopath, regardless if they are covert or overt, is the mirroring tactic. They mirror your desires and traits to further their agenda without genuine emotional depth. Recognizing this tactic can help you identify and protect yourself from their influence.
Stay Focused on Your Self-Worth
To protect yourself, remain aware of your self-worth and focus on your desired outcomes. Narcissists excel at diverting people from their mission, exploiting vulnerabilities and insecurities. They conceal their true selves, seeking to orchestrate false relationships and extract narcissistic supply. Their perception of human desires is limited to love, power, and money, exploiting individuals who are in a state of emotional fragility and lacking self-awareness. They seek out brokenness in others, viewing it as an opportunity to assert control, power, narcissistic supply and influence.
Guard Against Manipulation
When sharing your thoughts and vulnerabilities with a narcissist, remember that they’re assessing your susceptibility to manipulation, not engaging out of genuine interest. While the act of being heard by a narcissist may feel captivating, it is essential to discern their ulterior motives and safeguard yourself from becoming their prey.
Recognize Patterns of Behavior
All behavior has a pattern. It is not a one time thing. Narcissists are infamous for creating momentary, captivating, one time experiences, only to show detachment and coldness later. Remember, God is not the author of confusion.
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