Sympathy Chasing
The second form of manipulation is “victimhood.” More overt narcissists are increasingly playing the victim, shifting away from their traditionally dominant and grandiose personas to one of fragility or suffering, a tactic sometimes called “vulnerable narcissism.” With increased awareness of narcissism, narcissists are deflecting more than ever, often accusing others of being the narcissist to avoid accountability. They also seek sympathy on social media, manipulating others into feeling sorry for them by portraying themselves as misunderstood victims to garner support and attention. This tactic especially surfaces when the narcissist realizes you are strong or aware of their true nature, compelling them to feign weakness to appeal to your empathy.
Gaslighting 2.0
The third evolved form of manipulation is Gaslighting, now in the digital age. Traditionally, gaslighting involved making victims question their sanity and memories, but today’s narcissists gaslight by manipulating digital records—texts, emails, and social media posts—to create confusion. They may delete or edit messages and deny their existence, even manipulating videos or photos (using deepfakes) to distort reality, making it difficult for victims to trust their own senses.
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