Guilt-tripping is a common tactic narcissists employ to evoke feelings of guilt and responsibility and manipulate you into resuming contact. They may use emotional manipulation techniques to make you doubt your decision to cut contact and question whether you are being too harsh or unreasonable.
To make themselves appear powerless without you, the narcissist may play the victim, highlighting how upset they are by your actions to arouse your sympathy and compassion. They can say things like, ‘How could you leave me?’ or ‘You’re breaking my heart.’ They do this to place the responsibility on you and make you feel bad for setting boundaries.
5. Silent Treatment:
Silent treatment is a passive-aggressive tactic used by narcissists to exert control and power over you. It involves intentionally ignoring you, refusing to engage in communication, or even acknowledging your presence to provoke a reaction from you and force you to seek their attention. The narcissist wants to make you feel anxious, apprehensive, and distressed by giving you the silent treatment.
They expect you to want their validation and approval because of the lack of contact and attention, eventually pushing you to cross your limits and get in touch with them. This strategy aims to reaffirm their dominance and authority over the relationship.
6. Intermittent Reinforcement:
Intermittent reinforcement is a manipulation tactic employed by narcissists to maintain control and keep you emotionally invested in the relationship. They alternate between sweet moments of kindness and affection and then abruptly switch to a period of neglect, mistreatment, or even abuse. This inconsistency creates a cycle of uncertainty and confusion, making you constantly question their behavior and seek validation from them.
The narcissist may show you love, compliments, and displays of affection while in the stages of kindness and attention, making you feel cherished, refreshed, and wanted. These happy times, albeit fleeting, are swiftly followed by times of cruelty and neglect. It becomes challenging to escape their control because you develop a sense of dependence due to your optimism that the next outpouring of compassion is just around the corner.
7. Boundary Violation:
Narcissists tend to disrespect and violate your personal boundaries, both physically and emotionally. They may disrespect your stated limits or boundaries, intentionally pushing past them to assert their control and dominance over you. On a physical level, narcissists may invade your personal space without your consent, engaging in unwanted physical contact or intruding into your personal belongings or private areas. This violation of physical boundaries can make you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, and disrespected.
8. Stalking:
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