Requiring a narcissist to take responsibility for their actions is a significant trigger. People with narcissistic personality styles are notorious for avoiding responsibility for their own behavior at all costs, especially when that behavior signals their incompetence or dysfunction in any area of their lives. The underlying cause of this avoidance is their low self-esteem and fragile egos, which they try to overcompensate for with grandiosity and entitled behavior. If they were to admit that they were wrong, they would also have to admit that they are ordinary people who make mistakes—a stance that conflicts with their desire to maintain an image of superiority over others. This constant maneuvering to avoid responsibility requires a lot of effort and drains their already fragile egos, leading them to use maladaptive defense mechanisms and coping strategies such as denial, rationalization, blame-shifting, deflection, and scapegoating.
Number 9: Denying Them Instant Gratification
Denying narcissists instant gratification can be incredibly frustrating for them. According to a paper published by psychologists Simine Vazire and David C. Funder in the Personality and Social Psychology Review, one of the key traits of narcissistic personalities is impulsivity. The authors argue, based on extensive meta-analysis, that narcissists almost always prioritize immediate gratification, especially in areas that serve their so-called ego enhancement strategies, such as social status, social recognition, and short-term positive emotions, over their long-term goals. What will really make a narcissist angry is denying them instant pleasure in those domains, which they believe they deserve by default.
Number 8: Calling Them Out
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