Today, we are going to talk about the top strategies and techniques that all narcissists use to escape accountability for their lies and abuse. Trust me when I tell you, if you are not aware of these manipulation tactics, the chances are very high that you will eventually succumb to them, resulting in you giving up on holding the narcissist accountable. These tactics are incredibly successful at confusing the victim, shifting blame off the narcissist and onto someone else—usually you. They can even make the victim believe that they are somehow responsible for what the narcissist is guilty of doing, which can lead to deep feelings of despair, frustration, confusion, and even guilt or shame in the victim.
Today, we are discussing the top strategies and manipulation tactics that all narcissists use on their victims to escape accountability for their lies and abuse. The first one we are going to talk about is called “word salad.” Word salad is a technique that narcissists use to confuse their victims by employing a stream of nonsensical, disjointed, and sometimes contradictory words and phrases. It often includes circular conversation patterns with constant changes of the subject. This strategy is one of the most common manipulation tactics used when a narcissist is confronted with their lies and abusive behavior and wants to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.
For example, when confronted, a narcissist might use word salad to change the subject, deflect blame, or create confusion and frustration. They might use long, convoluted sentences that are difficult to follow, or they might switch topics mid-conversation. They also use circular reasoning, making statements that appear to address the issue but actually say very little. Essentially, word salad is conversational and linguistic gymnastics, designed to keep the listener off balance. The goal is always to escape accountability.
Next, narcissists are famous for using something called projection to avoid and escape being held accountable for their abusive behavior. Projection is a technique where they blame you for doing the exact things they themselves are guilty of doing. For example, if you confront them because you suspect they are cheating, they might accuse you of being unfaithful. Or, if you catch them in a flat-out lie, they might claim that you are the actual liar. Most times, when they use this technique, if you are not crystal clear about what is happening, you will jump into defensive mode—understandably so—and start defending yourself against these ridiculous accusations instead of maintaining focus on what the narcissist did. When that happens, the narcissist knows they have succeeded at deflecting blame onto you, while you defend yourself against accusations you aren’t guilty of. So, be aware when this tactic is used on you, and don’t take the bait.
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
