Psychological manipulation is a form of psychological manipulation where a person seeks to plant seeds of doubt in a targeted individual, causing them to question their memory, perception, or sanity. Narcissists commonly use this technique to exert control over their victims.

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In this article, we will explore ten examples of psychological manipulation techniques that narcissists commonly use to manipulate and confuse their victims.

1. Denial of Reality

Denying that something happened is one of the most common psychological manipulation techniques used by narcissists. They may deny saying hurtful things, engaging in certain behaviors, or even denying their feelings for the victim.

By denying reality, the narcissist causes the victim to question their memory and perception of events, causing them to doubt themselves and their sanity.

For example, a narcissist may deny that they said something hurtful to their partner, even though the partner clearly remembers the conversation.

2. Minimizing the victim’s feelings

Another manipulation technique involves minimizing or belittling the victim’s feelings. The narcissist may tell the victim that they are being overly sensitive or overreacting to a situation, making them feel that their feelings are invalid.

This can leave the victim feeling confused, hurt, and isolated, as they are made to believe that their feelings are not important or worth considering.

For example, a narcissist may tell their partner that they are overreacting to a hurtful comment, making the partner wonder if they are being overly sensitive.

3. Shifting the blame

Narcissists often use manipulation techniques to shift the blame onto their victims, making them feel responsible for the narcissist’s actions or behavior. This can leave the victim feeling guilty, ashamed, and confused.

The narcissist may distort facts, manipulate events, or even make up stories to make the victim believe he or she is at fault for the problems in the relationship.

For example, a narcissist may blame their partner for their infidelity, claiming that their partner’s behavior led them to cheat.

4. Projection

Projection is a common manipulative technique where the narcissist accuses the victim of things they themselves are guilty of. By projecting their own negative traits onto the victim, the narcissist diverts attention away from their own mistakes.

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This can leave the victim feeling confused, defensive, and questioning their own behavior, making them believe they are at fault.

For example, a narcissist who is repeatedly dishonest may accuse their partner of lying, causing the partner to question their honesty.

5. Withholding Information

Another psychological manipulation technique involves withholding information from the victim, leaving them feeling confused, distrustful, and uncertain. By keeping the victim in the dark about important details or events, the narcissist maintains control over the narrative.

This can leave the victim feeling isolated, anxious, and dependent on the narcissist for information and guidance.

For example, a narcissist may fail to inform their partner of important decisions or events, leaving the partner feeling out of the loop and unsure of what is happening.

6. Minimizing Concerns

Narcissists often deceive their victims by minimizing their concerns, making them feel like their problems are unimportant or insignificant. By ignoring the victim’s concerns or fears, the narcissist maintains power and control over the relationship.

This can make the victim feel unheard, invalidated, and unsure of their own judgment, as they are made to believe that their concerns are not worthy of attention.

For example, a narcissist may dismiss their partner’s concerns about a potential health issue, making the partner feel stupid for being concerned.

7. Using Confusion

Manipulation techniques often involve creating confusion in the victim, causing them to doubt their own thoughts, feelings, and perceptions. The narcissist may use contradictory statements, mixed signals, or ambiguous language to keep the victim off balance.

This can leave the victim feeling confused, anxious, and dependent on the narcissist for clarity and validation.

For example, the narcissist may say one thing one day and something completely different the next, leaving their partner confused and unsure of what to believe.

8. Isolating the Victim

Narcissists may use manipulation techniques to isolate their victims from friends, family, and support networks, making them dependent on the narcissist for validation and approval. By cutting off the victim’s connections to others, the narcissist maintains control over their thoughts and feelings.

This can leave the victim feeling trapped, alone, and vulnerable, as they are made to believe that the narcissist is the only one who truly understands and cares for them.

For example, the narcissist may convince their partner that their friends and family are no good for them, causing the partner to distance themselves from their loved ones.

9. Using Aggression

Manipulation techniques may include using aggression or intimidation to control the victim and make them doubt their judgment. The narcissist may resort to yelling, name-calling, threats, or other forms of verbal or emotional abuse to assert their power.

This can leave the victim feeling fearful, insecure, and submissive, as they are made to believe that the narcissist’s aggression is justified and necessary to protect them.

For example, the narcissist may yell at their partner for questioning their behavior, leaving the partner feeling guilty and afraid to speak up in the future.

10. Love Bombing

Love Bombing is a manipulative technique where the narcissist showers the victim with affection, praise, and attention to create a sense of dependence and loyalty. By showering the victim with love and admiration, the narcissist manipulates their feelings and perceptions.

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This can leave the victim feeling flattered, special, and desired, as they are made to believe that the narcissist truly cares about them and has their best interests in mind.

For example, a narcissist may go out of their way to impress and spoil their partner, only to use that generosity against them later in an argument.

Conclusion

Manipulation is a harmful and manipulative tactic that narcissists use to control and dominate their victims. By denying reality, minimizing feelings, shifting blame, and using other subtle techniques, narcissists create confusion, doubt, and dependency in their victims.

It is important to recognize the signs of manipulation and seek help if you believe you are a victim of this form of emotional abuse. Remember, you are not alone and there are resources available to support you in breaking free from the toxic cycle of narcissistic manipulation.