Next, narcissists evaluate your level of investment in the relationship. They assess what you can offer in terms of ‘supply,’ including your time, energy, and resources. By testing your willingness to enhance their self-image and cater to their desires, they seek to determine the extent to which you’ll prioritize their needs over your own.
Emotional empathy serves as another critical test for narcissists. They gauge your capacity for empathy to manipulate and control you as the relationship progresses. Covert narcissists may initiate a ‘pity party,’ sharing stories of victimhood to elicit sympathy, while grandiose narcissists may exaggerate their emotions to solicit your support and validation.
Furthermore, narcissists conduct a ‘tolerance test’ to assess your threshold for their behavior. At the onset of the relationship, they may push boundaries, criticize you, or create chaos to observe your response. By evaluating your reactions to their manipulative tactics, they seek to ascertain whether you’ll accept their mistreatment or assert your boundaries.
7 Things Narcissists Do When They’re Alone
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
Leave a Comment