Self-Help and Financial Scams
The fourth manipulation tactic involves exploiting the self-help and financial advice industries. Narcissists often present themselves as success gurus or lifestyle influencers, drawing in followers with exaggerated success stories and promises of wealth, happiness, or fulfillment. By pretending to be role models or influential figures, they gain admiration and influence, allowing them to exploit their audience for personal gain.
Online Bullying
The fifth manipulation tactic is cyberstalking and digital harassment, a topic covered in my video, Is a Narcissist Spying on You? Narcissists use social media, cameras, and trackers to monitor and harass victims, sometimes exposing personal information to damage reputations or blackmail others.
Cause-Based Manipulation
The sixth form of manipulation is activism. Narcissists exploit social causes—such as environmental or social justice movements—to position themselves as champions of these issues while masking their self-interest. They may present themselves as morally superior, discrediting anyone with differing views. This “activist narcissist” approach is often a ploy to gain attention and other benefits, as they rarely care about the cause itself.
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