{"id":72951,"date":"2021-12-21T06:26:42","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T06:26:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/?p=72951"},"modified":"2025-08-21T06:59:23","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T06:59:23","slug":"narcissist-mind-games","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marriage.com\/advice\/mental-health\/narcissist-mind-games\/","title":{"rendered":"12 Games People With Narcissistic Personality Disorder Play"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\"Couple<\/p>\n

Ever been in a <\/span>relationship with a narcissist<\/span><\/a>? Someone who constantly needs admiration and keeps telling you how superior they are to others? Did you often have to hear how lucky you are to have them?<\/span><\/p>\n

If you’ve said yes to these questions, chances are you might have been <\/span>dealing with a narcissist<\/span><\/a>. These people play narcissist mind games to manipulate and control others around them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let’s look into what narcissistic mind games are, why narcissists play games, and if playing mind games with a narcissist can help you beat them at their own game.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What is a narcissistic mind game?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Narcissistic mind games are manipulation tactics designed to mess with your mind and confuse you so that narcissists can use the relationship to their advantage. Narcissists tend to use mind games to appear superior or more powerful than you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few examples of how narcissistic mind games may look like.<\/span><\/p>\n

  1. In the <\/span>early part of the relationship<\/span><\/a>, they move fast and seduce you.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The narcissists suddenly stop responding to your texts\/calls and start ghosting you<\/span><\/li>\n
  3.  <\/span>Narcissists flirt with other people<\/span><\/a> even when they’re around you<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. They don’t want to discuss where the relationship is going<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. They expect you to know what’s going on in their mind<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. They don’t want to introduce you to their friends and family<\/span><\/li>\n
  7. They blame you<\/span><\/a> for whatever happens and act like victims<\/span><\/li>\n
  8. You have to chase them because they won’t call or text you first<\/span><\/li>\n
  9. They make promises and don’t keep their words later on<\/span><\/li>\n
  10. They withhold feelings and affection<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>

    <\/span>Why do Narcissists play manipulation games?<\/span><\/h2>\n

    Why do narcissists play games, and what do they get from it? <\/span>Research<\/span><\/a> shows that narcissists want to enjoy uncommitted pleasure. They enjoy meeting their needs from different people without caring about their partner’s needs or <\/span>being committed to them<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n