When we talk about covert narcissists, a few traits come to mind immediately: manipulation, passive aggressiveness, and a fragile facade hidden behind a humble face. It’s the classic image of someone who pretends to be soft-spoken, soft-hearted, modest, and even self-sacrificing. But inside, there is a raging entitlement boiling quietly beneath the surface. These are all real and important traits to understand.
However, there is one particular weapon that covert narcissists use—a weapon so sneaky, so polished, and so beautifully deceptive that even seasoned survivors, yes, even those who recognize what narcissism looks like, can fall for it without realizing they have been entangled, pulled in, and hypnotized. This is the habit we are going to talk about today: the one weird habit covert narcissists have but pretend they do not possess. Trust me, once you spot it, you will start seeing it everywhere, especially in those people you once thought were the kindest souls on the planet.
Then, slowly, you start noticing a smell. You sniff around, wondering where it’s coming from. It can’t be this bag; look at it! It’s too beautiful, too divine, too flawless. Instead of questioning the bag, you start questioning yourself, don’t you? You check your shoes, your pants—maybe it’s you. Maybe you’re the problem. That’s exactly what it feels like being in the presence of a covert narcissist. They are masters at presentation, but inside, it’s the same rot—it just smells slower.
Here’s the secret nobody really tells you: the habit that allows them to pull this off is virtue signaling. But they do not just virtue signal the way influencers do on social media. No, covert narcissists have a signature style—a humble, sneaky, backdoor kind of virtue signaling that bypasses your defenses by making you believe they’re the best human beings you have ever met, all without making you feel manipulated.
Continue reading on the next page
Sharing is caring!
