Narcissists craft conflict narratives where they present themselves as heroes or victims. This distortion protects their self-image and allows them to avoid accountability. They often try to discredit victims before the truth is revealed, engaging in tactics like gaslighting, victim-blaming, and public shaming. Such behavior is common in communal environments, where they may discuss targets with authority figures or new partners. New partners may be manipulated into resenting ex-partners, as narcissists exploit the need for loyalty and commitment to further their agenda.
Many narcissists race targets to win over the most allies and enablers. Their main motive is to discredit victims before the truth becomes public—to be the first to present "facts."
Within communal contexts—e.g., families, religious groups, and workplaces—this calculated sabotage can look like collective gaslighting, public victim-blaming, and public shaming, spreading rumors, and even provoking-then-pathologizing to make someone look too reactive to be believable.
Narcissists often exploit in new partners an unspoken obligation to prove one's commitment, loyalty, and protectiveness. By victim-playing to a new lover who is eager to prove their emotional intelligence and capacity to be a safe space, the narcissist manipulates them into resenting the narcissist's ex-partner.
Some narcissists can convince new partners that feeling resentment toward the narcissist's ex isn't enough—that they are to actively participate in discrediting or sidelining them.
Collection
[
|
...
]