Today’s topic is a very real and harmful form of abuse that isn’t widely recognized or discussed: financial abuse. It’s often referred to as “hidden abuse” because most victims don’t realize it qualifies as abuse. Financial abuse can manifest in many ways, varying greatly from victim to victim. Today, we’ll shed some light on this topic.
Narcissists are pathological liars, manipulators, and exploiters, and this applies to their handling of money as well. To understand their behavior, we need to view it through their lens, not ours. Narcissists are entitled, controlling, lack empathy, and are exploitative and manipulative. Trying to make sense of their actions using our perspective—one that values empathy, compassion, fairness, and honesty—will only lead to confusion. Educating ourselves about how narcissists think is a crucial part of processing the trauma they’ve caused and protecting ourselves from similar individuals in the future.
A narcissist’s goal is to gain power and control over others, and money is an effective tool to achieve this. Financial abuse is one of the most powerful ways to trap a victim in an abusive relationship. Victims often stay because they’re deeply concerned about their ability to provide for themselves and their children. This financial dependence frequently forces victims back into abusive situations.
What Does Financial Abuse Look Like?
Financial abuse can be difficult to identify because it varies so much. Here are some common examples:
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