Nobody likes a person, who is full of themselves and does not care about anyone else. But there is even something worse than a narcissist – a covert narcissist. You cannot even notice them until they have destructed everything.
Narcissists can cause a lot of damage, especially when you do not know exactly how to deal with them. They are great manipulators and usually get what they want.
They can turn the situation against you with a blink of an eye and make you the one, who needs to apologize in the end.
Why covert narcissists are so much worse than regular ones, is because you cannot see their actions through. They might seem like the nicest and friendliest people ever, but when you start trusting them or counting on them, you are the one who is going to get hurt.
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Here are 13 signs, how to recognize a covert narcissist:
1. They Are Overly Critical
They will point out all your mistakes and faults. They always tend to see the negativity of the situation as well. They can blame you without feeling sorry, but they cannot stand the opposite situation.
Narcissists can never admit that anything is their fault, they would rather blame it all on you and as they are great manipulators, people might actually believe them.
2. They Have Always A Hidden Agenda
Although they seem pleasant and nice, they never do anything just because. They always have a hidden agenda, how it would benefit them.
So be very careful, if you are asking for a favor from a narcissist because they will always want something back.
3. They Do Not Care About Rules When They Want Something
They can lie, steal and cheat when they are on a mission to get what they want. They do not care about other people or their feelings. They only show interest in anyone, when it is useful for them.
Be very careful, because there is a great change, that they will stab you in the back when they do not need you anymore.
4. They Are Stubborn and Dogmatic
They will never agree on anything. When they have an opinion, it is impossible to change it. Also, they can never admit that they were wrong or something was their fault.
Not admitting their own mistakes, makes it impossible for them to learn from them. It is very complicated to work with them because they cannot handle teamwork. They always need to feel in charge.
5. They Are Not Empathic
They do not care about others. Usually, they do not even bother to listen to your problems or difficulties. They are not trying to make the world a better place because they could not be bothered with other people and their problems. All they care about is money, fame, and success.
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6. They Are Envious of Others
They want to have all the good things for themselves. They cannot handle, if someone is being happier, richer, more successful than them. Narcissists never feel happy for others, all they feel is jealousy and anger.
7. They Will Always Play The Victim
Nothing is ever their fault. When something goes wrong, everyone else is to blame. Covert narcissists make you feel sorry for them and want your compassion. It is ironic because they are not able to show compassion towards anyone.
8. They Need To Be The Center of Attention
Covert narcissists are the ones, who brag about every little thing. They always want to be acknowledged for their actions, even if it is not something worth mentioning. They will do high-risk activities for attention and praise as well.
9. They Will Project Their Feelings on You
When they are having a bad day, you will be influenced by it as well. They will not hide their emotions and usually, they are angry or pissed at something. They will shower you with their negativity, even if you are not the cause for their bad feelings.
10. They Are Not Intelligent
As they do not have any interest in others and the environment around them, they cannot hold a conversation for long. All they can talk about is themselves and their work.
They also do not like to be taught new things, because they do not like to feel stupider than the others. They like to explain things, but the sad thing is that they do not know a lot.
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11. They Will Never Open Themselves Up
Covert narcissists cannot show their true colors to others. They are afraid of letting anyone too close. They would rather put on a mask and pretend to be someone else.
You should never open yourself up to a narcissist as well because they can use your words against you later in an argument. They would do everything to win, this also means telling your deepest secrets to everyone to win a fight.
12. They Are Highly Sensitive and Over-Reactive
They are eager to criticize others, but they cannot handle criticism about them. Even if you say something small, they will be hurt and do not let go of it for a long time.
They do not value honesty, so it would be easier just to let it go and not start to point out their mistakes.
13. They Target The Weaker Ones
Because of their own insecurities, they try to bring others down to feel better about themselves. They try to find the weakest ones, so they would not fight back. They are great at manipulation, but they cannot beat strong independent minds.
Covert narcissists can be secretive and deceitful. They might seem charming and friendly at first, but they will only stay that way till they need something from you.
When you are not beneficial to them anymore, they will just ditch you without thinking twice. If possible, try to stay away from this kind of people.
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