Narcissists engage in mirroring to create a sense of rapport, trust, and connection with another, often to secure narcissistic supply. The narcissist will closely observe and then imitate their target's behaviors, interests, attitudes, values, and emotions.
A sense of entitlement or a need for constant admiration within an individual with narcissistic tendencies could lead them to want to 'steal the limelight' over others in order to enhance their feeling of self-importance or superiority, therefore, if they notice other people receiving this admiration, they might look ...
Seasoned narcissists understand that shared traits build trust, which is why they imitate what you do. You may even notice your narc dresses just like you, wears similar makeup, or dyes their hair the same color. Some people find these behaviors flattering at first, but you should consider them red flags.
The narcissist only tells stories which make them important in some way; whether they are hero or victim, it's the story they will tell. They don't care how many times they've told the same story, nor to whom they told it, if it got them the desired rush once, they'll tell it a thousand times over.
Stealing is a common tactic narcissists use to gain power and control over you. A survey we conducted among 300 survivors of narcissistic abuse revealed that the three most common things that a narcissist will steal from you is your money, time, and happiness.
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.
Grooming a person, manipulating her into doubting her feelings, generating shame regarding her best qualities, and manipulatively creating dependency are four ways a narcissist destroys a person from the inside out.
People with narcissism live in a self-constructed world of double standards and distortions. That is a key reason dealing with someone who has narcissistic characteristics can feel confusing, frustrating, and draining.
The best way to tell if a narcissist is mirroring you is by paying attention to their reactions when they see themselves in the mirror. If they react negatively or avoid looking at themselves in the mirror altogether then they are probably not interested in mirroring you.
Narcissists do enjoy looking at themselves in the mirror. They may spend more time grooming themselves to bolster their grandiose self-images. In this way, narcissists may be more prone to self-objectify—and identify with and to base their self-worth on their external appearance, instead of their character.
The quality that a narcissist will hope to destroy you is your ability to stay in the spirit of love or stay in the energy of love. Their aim will always be to shift you into the energy of fear.
Narcissistic mirroring often involves non-verbal communication too. Whether you lean forward, back, or to the side, they mirror that. If you talk fast and loud, they talk fast and loud. If you talk with your hands, they will too – and it might be an exact, carbon-copy of the hand movement you just made.
A person with narcissistic personality or narcissistic traits frequently uses manipulation tactics to influence and control others. Common examples of this include gaslighting, triangulation, love bombing, and many others.
The narcissist seems to remember every time you wronged them and made them upset but can't seem to remember what is important to you or plans they made with you. If you step back and look at what the narcissist remembers and what they forget, you will see their memory is in fact selective.
It comes hand-in-hand with this that narcissists hate being criticised or called out. Which is exactly why there's one word in particular narcissistic people cannot stand: "no".
Although narcissists act superior to others and posture as beyond reproach, underneath their grandiose exteriors lurk their deepest fears: That they are flawed, illegitimate, and ordinary.
A monumental weakness in the narcissist is the failure to look internally and flesh out what needs to be worked on. Then, of course, the next step is to spend time improving. The narcissist sabotages any possibility of looking deep within.
“To what extent do you agree with this statement: 'I am a narcissist.'”
Take a deep breath, for you are about to plunge into the murky depths of a complex psychiatric condition known as Narcissistic Personality Disorder, or NPD.
Establish and Enforce Boundaries
Narcissists often target people who lack strong tenacity as they feel empowered by testing and overstepping on other people's boundaries. Establishing clear and firm boundaries can protect you from the narcissist's manipulation and emotional abuse.