Emotional Reactions Narcissists Crave From You: The Manipulative Games They Play

Have you ever found yourself in a relationship with someone who constantly seeks out emotional reactions from you, only to use them against you for their benefit? If so, you may have been dealing with a narcissist. Narcissists have a deep need for validation and attention and will go to great lengths to manipulate others in order to get what they want. One of the ways they do this is by provoking emotional reactions in their victims and then using these reactions to their advantage.

In this article, we will delve into the various emotional reactions that narcissists crave from their victims, and explore the games they play to provoke these emotions in order to work in their favour.

Gratitude

Narcissists have a constant need to be adored and admired and will go to great lengths to make others feel indebted to them. One of the ways they do this is by doing something for their victim and then expecting excessive gratitude in return. This can range from small gestures, such as picking up the tab at dinner, to larger favours, such as loaning money or helping with a project.

The narcissist will then use this gratitude as a way to manipulate their victim, making them feel guilty for not reciprocating or for not living up to their expectations. They may also use this gratitude as a way to control their victim, using subtle threats or ultimatums to ensure that the victim continues to show appreciation and admiration.

Jealousy

Narcissists thrive on attention and will often try to make their victims feel jealous in order to control them. They may flirt with other people in front of their victim or talk about ex-partners in a way that makes their victim feel insecure. By provoking jealousy, the narcissist is able to keep their victim on edge and in a constant state of insecurity, making them more likely to bend to the narcissist’s will.

The narcissist will then use this jealousy as a way to control their victim, manipulating them into doing things they wouldn’t normally do in order to keep the narcissist’s attention. They may use subtle threats or gaslighting techniques to ensure that their victim stays in line and continues to vie for their affection.

Fear

Narcissists are masters at instilling fear in their victims in order to control them. They may use subtle threats or intimidation tactics to keep their victim in line or may go so far as to become physically aggressive in order to make their victim feel afraid. By instilling fear, the narcissist is able to keep their victim under their control, making them more likely to do as they say out of fear of what may happen if they don’t comply.

The narcissist will then use this fear as a way to manipulate their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that their victim continues to do what they want. They may use gaslighting techniques or emotional manipulation to make their victim feel as though they have no other choice but to comply with the narcissist’s demands.

Pity

Narcissists often play the victim in order to manipulate others into feeling sorry for them. They may portray themselves as being helpless or in need of support in order to garner sympathy and attention from their victims. By playing the victim, the narcissist is able to manipulate their victim into feeling sorry for them and doing whatever they can to help them.

The narcissist will then use this pity as a way to control their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that their victim continues to support and care for them. They may use emotional manipulation or guilt trips to ensure that their victim continues to feel sorry for them and do whatever they can to make them feel better.

Anger

Narcissists thrive on conflict and drama, and will often provoke their victims into feeling angry in order to control them. They may pick fights for no reason, or say hurtful things in order to provoke a reaction. By provoking anger, the narcissist is able to keep their victim in a constant state of turmoil, making it easier for them to manipulate their emotions.

The narcissist will then use this anger as a way to control their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that their victim continues to play into their hands. They may use gaslighting techniques or manipulation to make their victim feel as though they are in the wrong and that they need to do whatever the narcissist says in order to make things right.

Admiration

Narcissists crave admiration and validation and will go to great lengths to make their victims feel in awe of them. They may brag about their accomplishments or status or constantly seek out compliments in order to feed their ego. By seeking admiration, the narcissist is able to keep their victim under their control, making them more likely to do whatever the narcissist wants in order to keep their approval.

The narcissist will then use this admiration as a way to manipulate their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that they continue to do what the narcissist wants. They may use subtle threats or manipulation to ensure that their victim continues to shower them with praise and admiration.

Guilt

Narcissists often use guilt as a way to manipulate their victims into doing what they want. They may bring up past mistakes or wrongs in order to make their victim feel guilty or use emotional manipulation to make them feel as though they owe the narcissist something. By instilling guilt, the narcissist is able to keep their victim under their control, ensuring that they do what they say out of a sense of obligation.

The narcissist will then use this guilt as a way to control their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that their victim continues to feel as though they owe them something. They may use gaslighting techniques or emotional manipulation to make their victim feel as though they have no other choice but to comply with the narcissist’s demands.

Worthlessness

Narcissists often use manipulation tactics to make their victims feel as though they are worthless without the narcissist’s approval. They may constantly put their victim down or belittle them in order to make them feel as though they are not good enough on their own. By instilling a sense of worthlessness, the narcissist is able to keep their victim under their control, making them more likely to seek out the narcissist’s approval and validation.

The narcissist will then use this sense of worthlessness as a way to manipulate their victim, using it as a tool to ensure that their victim continues to seek out their approval and validation. They may use emotional manipulation or gaslighting techniques to make their victim feel as though they are nothing without the narcissist and that they need to do whatever it takes to gain their approval.

In conclusion, narcissists crave emotional reactions from their victims in order to manipulate and control them for their own benefit. By playing on their victim’s emotions and using them to their advantage, narcissists are able to keep their victims under their control and make them more likely to comply with their demands. It’s important to be aware of these manipulation tactics and to not fall prey to the narcissist’s games. By recognising the signs and setting boundaries, you can protect yourself from falling into their trap and maintain control over your own emotions and actions.

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