Are All Manipulators Narcissistic?
3 Powerful Ways to Identify The Difference
I am often asked questions about manipulation and the rather complex and often misunderstood relationship between manipulation and narcissism. In this post I will offer my unsderstanding of both and as always take a closer look with a special lens on the shadowy figure of the covert narcissist.
The most common question I am asked is “Are manipulative people a bit narcissistic?”
Understanding Manipulation
First off, what do we mean by manipulation? It’s essentially when someone tries to sway your actions or perceptions, but not always with a malicious intent. Picture a baby crying to get attention; that’s manipulation at its most innocent. As we grow, our methods become more sophisticated, ranging from the benign to the downright devious.
The psychology behind manipulation is a mixed bag. For some, it’s about survival or a learned behaviour from their environment. Others might manipulate to gain power or control, stemming from deeper psychological needs or insecurities.
Narcissism, on the other hand, is a term that’s often bandied about quite liberally these days and is often misused to label anyone who takes a selfie more than once a day.
