“My mother cared a lot about appearance. What people thought. What people said. Who got mentioned at church, in the local paper, and who won awards. My older brother and I accepted that as the way of the world when…
Key Points A narcissist may use the defense mechanisms of idealization and devaluation to gain emotional control. Idealization occurs when the narcissist bombards their partner with love early in the relationship. Devaluation occurs when the narcissist suddenly “abandons” the person…
Someone once said that we are all, at best, sincere hypocrites. The same can be said of narcissism, in that many of us are capable of displaying selfishness, a lack of empathy for others, and a desire for power and…
A naughty child can annoy you by simply imitating your words without thinking. “You keep imitating me.” “You keep imitating me.” “Stop it!” “Stop it!” They can improve their naughty game by making fun of your voice. Or they can…
There is a clear difference between simply surviving a toxic relationship and coming out stronger. This difference is often defined by certain inherent qualities. Surviving is simply coping, but coming out stronger requires resilience and strength that not everyone possesses.…
There is a clear difference between being born into a toxic family and finding a way to break free. What sets those who break free? It boils down to a few powerful characteristics. These traits allow individuals to walk away…
Relationships can be tough, and sometimes it’s hard to see our faults. What if the problem isn’t your partner, but you? It’s not easy to admit, but recognizing toxic behavior in yourself is the first step toward making things better.…
A naughty child can annoy you by simply imitating every word you say without thinking. “You keep imitating me.” “You keep imitating me.” “Stop it!” “Stop it!” They can improve their naughty game by making fun of your voice. Or…
A short while ago, Tucker Max—one of the world’s most famous narcissists—sat down on my couch and revealed his psychological test results. Unsurprisingly, he scored high (31/40) on the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI). He scored high on the Exploitative Dimension,…
Children who have a narcissistic parent often experience anxiety when it comes to communicating with that parent. Often, the narcissistic parent can only think about their feelings, and so without realizing it, they neglect to think about what the child…
