A key indicator of narcissism is apathy combined with emotional manipulation. Narcissists often lack empathy, the ability to genuinely connect with and understand others’ feelings. Although they may appear to show care or affection, this is often calculated and insincere. Narcissists may understand others’ emotions to an extent, but only as tools for their own gain, rather than meaningful experiences.
Their apathy drives them to treat people and things as disposable, valuing them only as long as they serve a purpose. They may initially cherish someone, then discard that person once they’ve extracted whatever benefit they wanted. Despite their apathy, narcissists skillfully manipulate emotions, using them to elicit sympathy, compliance, and admiration. They can present themselves as victims or wounded souls, effectively drawing people in to serve their needs for attention and validation. In disagreements, they might steer the conversation toward emotional appeals, making reasoned arguments nearly impossible. This tactic keeps the spotlight on themselves while distorting the real meanings of emotions to further their aims.
3. Perfectionists in Every Aspect
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