Today, I’m venturing into the nutty, bizarre universe of narcissistic behaviors. If you’ve ever had the displeasure of having to deal with a narcissist, you know their behavior has you questioning your sanity, infuriated, and wondering what’s real. They’re masters at dodging and getting you to believe you’re the problem. So, let’s dissect the top 10 (with some bonus ones!) strangest narcissist behaviors so you can recognize them and save yourself.
1. Blame-Shifting Like It’s Their Job
Narcissists never take accountability. Ever. If something goes wrong, it’s always your fault. They’re always right, and you’re always wrong. This blame-shifting is a core tactic to dodge responsibility and keep you on the defensive.
2. Gaslighting to Keep You in a Fog
Gaslighting is a narcissist’s favorite tool. They’ll say things like, “I don’t remember that,” “It didn’t happen that way,” or “You’re crazy!” to confuse you and make you doubt your reality. Their goal? It keeps you in a constant state of uncertainty, never giving you clarity.
3. Ganging Up with Flying Monkeys
Narcissists love power in numbers. They’ll manipulate others’ friends, family, or coworkers to turn against you. These “flying monkeys” validate the narcissist’s narrative, making you feel isolated and attacked. They’re nice to outsiders to paint themselves as saints while portraying you as the villain.
Related Topics:
5 SIGNS a Narcissist Doesn’t Just HATE You
The narcissist’s silent betrayal
4. Playing the Victim Card
Enter the covert narcissist with their “poor me” act. Even when they’re the instigator, they twist the story to make themselves victims. Some will even fake cry (with no tears!) to get you to back off when you call them out. It’s all about gaining sympathy and avoiding accountability.
5. Silent Treatment as Punishment
When you bring up something a narcissist doesn’t want to hear, they might go radio silent. This stonewalling or silent treatment is emotional abuse designed to punish you for speaking up. It’s their way of controlling you and shutting down any criticism.
6. Raging to Intimidate
Not all narcissists go silent; some go loud. Overt or malignant narcissists may yell, scream, or get in your face to scare you into submission. I once dealt with a garage owner who flipped out when I pointed out a check engine light issue after his team’s repair. He screamed, blamed me, and even flipped me off all to avoid admitting fault. This rage is meant to intimidate and make you second-guess yourself.
7. Sneaking Around Like Spies
Narcissists, especially covert ones, are sneaky. They lie by omission, hide their actions, and gossip behind your back. They’ll smile at your face at family gatherings while smearing you to others. This duplicity is second nature; they can’t help but operate in the shadows.
8. Labeling You as “Crazy”
Narcissists love to play the mental health card. They’ll tell you (or others) that you’re bipolar, unstable, or need help to discredit you. By painting you as the problem, they ensure no one believes your side of the story. Once they plant this seed, it can permanently damage how others see you.
9. Obsessed with Their Image
Narcissists are hyper-focused on how they’re perceived. They’ll spend hours in front of the mirror for a casual outing, fretting over a speck of lint on their shirt. I knew a narcissist who took two hours to get ready for a playground visit! They’re paranoid about others’ opinions and will accuse you of badmouthing them if you part ways.
10. Deluded Self-Grandeur
Narcissists genuinely believe they’re great people, flawless, even. They don’t see their lies, gaslighting, or blame-shifting. Instead, they view you as the monster who’s unappreciative of their greatness. This delusion protects them from facing their shame.
Bonus Weird Behaviors
I promised 10, but there’s so much more to cover! Here are a few extra behaviors that stand out:
11. Entitlement Overdrive
Narcissists feel they deserve special treatment. They’ll cut lines, demand royal service at restaurants, or road-rage their way through traffic, believing they’re above everyone else.
12. Perpetual Lying
These folks lie about everything, even trivial things like what they bought at the store. They mix truths with lies to confuse you, making it hard to separate fact from fiction. With a narcissist, assume deception is their default.
13. Know-It-All Attitude
Narcissists think they’re experts on everything, politics, cooking, cleaning, you name it. They’ll correct you constantly and argue just to prove they’re smarter. Family gatherings? They’re the ones sparking political debates.
14. Dismissing You
Covert narcissists love to ignore or dismiss you, especially if you’re too strong for them. They’ll turn their back or act like you don’t exist to make you feel small and maintain their sense of superiority.
15. Cold and Unaffectionate
In relationships, narcissists, especially covert ones, can be icy and unaffectionate, particularly in the bedroom. This withholding is a control tactic to keep you chasing their approval. If they’re not interested in intimacy, they might be getting it elsewhere or using you for something else, like money or security.
Don’t Waste Your Time
Narcissists leave you feeling alone, confused, and drained. Ask yourself: What did they do for you? Probably not much beyond a charming facade in the beginning. Don’t sweat them, they’re not worth your energy.
I hope this list helps you spot narcissistic behaviors and protect your peace.
