Michael Ireland wrote about how narcissists put on a big show to perform as if they care about victims but it’s all just a self serving manipulation. Narcissists wear a mask that makes them appear kind when they are really more like vampires looking for exploitation opportunities.

Michael Ireland’s take on narcissistic manipulation: 

The “kind of people” that get “recruited” are referred to as Dupes since they too have been fooled by the narcissists false face. A narcissist usually has already laid the groundwork with people associated with the relationship. It can often even include family members of the victim they are bullying.

The recruiting method is very old and still works to this day. They have been setting up friends and family members by showing them an act of deep concern with the behavior of the VICTIM. Remember that up to this point the narc has conned everyone into believing they are the best thing since sliced bread. With this audience they can describe their OWN behaviors as a bully, but attach the bully banner to the victim.

Often even setting up the victim to be dismissed, even by family members by using Gaslighting and telling the “recruits” it’s so hard because they are now being blamed for doing what is being done to THEM.

So now when the REAL victim seeks help and describes what is happening they are talking to an audience that has already decided that THEY are the real bully.

Narcissists must become good actors and develop the means of reading people in order to best fool them into believing they are something they’re not.

Sadly, it also exposes the fact that most narcissists are fairly intelligent.