A Narcissist's Silent Weapon: How to Protect Yourself From Narcissists

A Narcissist's Silent Weapon, passive-aggressive behaviour, can cause emotional distress and be harmful in the long run; here's how to spot it and stop it

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Imagine asking a coworker to help you on a project, and although they agree, they suddenly "forget" whenever the deadline approaches. Or a friend saying "you look beautiful today, I barely recognised you," after you show them your new haircut. Perhaps you know all too well the feeling of a parent or partner ignoring you following some perceived slight.

On the surface this behaviour may seem relatively minor. But if it happens often, this could indicate a narcissist is using passive-aggressive behaviour to try and hurt you.

To protect yourself, it helps to know where a narcissist is coming from.

The term "narcissist" can refer to people with high levels of narcissism, not necessarily that they have a clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. There are generally two types: grandiose and vulnerable.

Understanding Narcissists

Grandiose narcissists usually view themselves as special and superior to others and are likely to brag about their achievements. Vulnerable narcissists tend to be self-conscious, sensitive to the slightest criticism and have an insatiable need for external appreciation.