Pity ploys are a manipulative tactic frequently employed by narcissists to elicit sympathy, empathy, and compassion from you or others. They strategically portray themselves as victims or individuals needing help to manipulate the situation to their advantage.
Narcissists may play on your empathetic nature by presenting themselves as helpless, misunderstood, or unfairly treated. They may share exaggerated stories of their hardships or emphasize their emotional pain to trigger feelings of guilt or a sense of responsibility in you. By garnering pity, they aim to regain control, elicit support, and maintain their influence over you and others.
13. Financial Manipulation:
Narcissists often use financial manipulation to exert control and power over their victims. They may attempt to control your finances by withholding money, limiting access to resources, or threatening your financial stability. Narcissists may intentionally create dependency by controlling the purse strings, using financial leverage to manipulate you into maintaining contact or complying with their demands. They may control your access to shared funds, restrict your ability to work or earn money or exploit your financial vulnerabilities to ensure you remain reliant on them.
14. Hoovering Through Others:
When engaging in hoovering, narcissists often use mutual acquaintances, friends, or family members as intermediaries to maintain a connection with you or gather information about your life. They may manipulate these individuals into relaying messages, probing for details, or even acting as a spy on their behalf. They may try to exploit existing relationships, creating a web of information flow that allows them to keep tabs on you and potentially find ways to regain control or manipulate your emotions.
15. Appearing as a Changed Person:
During this phase, the narcissist may display seemingly genuine remorse for their past actions, apologize profusely, and make grand gestures to convince you that they have transformed. They may claim to have had an epiphany or undergone therapy, promising to rectify their past behavior and become a better person. However, it’s crucial to approach these claims cautiously, as narcissists often struggle to maintain long-term change and are prone to reverting to their manipulative patterns once they feel secure in the relationship again.
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