2. Passive-Aggressive Jabs
On the surface, a covert narcissist might seem sweet and agreeable, but beneath that facade brews a storm of anger and resentment. Instead of expressing it directly, they’ll toss out indirect insults disguised as jokes, backhanded compliments, or “helpful” advice.
This makes it nearly impossible to call them out without being accused of overreacting or not being able to “take a joke.” Sometimes their words sound nice, but the tone, body language, or facial expressions reveal the aggression underneath.
3. Playing the Victim
A covert narcissist often paints herself as a damsel in distress, perpetually overwhelmed by some crisis. The world, they’ll claim, is out to get them. Yet despite their complaints, they never take real steps to improve their situation. Instead, they thrive on watching others scramble to fix their problems, drawing you in with guilt and pity until you feel obligated to help.
4. Micro-Cheating
This subtle yet deceptive tactic undermines trust while maintaining plausible deniability. Think flirting just enough to raise eyebrows, staying overly connected with exes, or engaging in emotionally intimate conversations with others all while insisting they’ve done nothing wrong.
If you did the same, they’d be outraged, but for them, it’s “technically” innocent. Micro-cheating keeps you doubting yourself am I too jealous? Too insecure? while they secure validation from multiple sources, avoiding genuine intimacy with you.
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