11 Ways to Confuse and Disarm a Narcissist

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If someone in your life is egotistical, lacks empathy, and has an inflated sense of self, you may consider them to be narcissistic. It's important to note, though, that just because someone displays narcissistic tendencies, it doesn't mean they have Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). NPD can only be diagnosed by a licensed therapist, and not everyone with NPD is manipulative or abusive. [1] If the person in your life is controlling, toxic, and calculating, it may seem like a challenge to outsmart them, but you can put them in their place by setting boundaries and taking away their ability to manipulate you. We're here to help you confuse and disarm them with this psychology-backed guide.

1

Be unpredictable.

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    Some egoistic people work hard to learn how to get certain reactions (mostly praise) out of you because their self-worth is defined by what others think. When you do or say something unpredictable, they completely unravel because their primary defense mechanism—knowing how to play you—is gone. [2] Throw them off their game by:
    • Changing how you react to their grandiose claims (if you typically push back, try randomly agreeing with them to confuse them).
    • Taking a new leadership position over them if you’re coworkers or classmates.
    • Suddenly showing them little or no reaction to their behavior.
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2

Say “no” when they ask for favors.

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    An inflated sense of their own importance may make them feel entitled to special treatment from everyone. Start saying “no” to their requests—they won’t know how to react to the rejection at first and will be shocked to have to manage on their own. [3]
    • They may try to persuade you to regain control of you. Stay firm and stick to your boundaries —backpedaling is an invitation for them to keep poking. Over time, they may learn to respect your boundaries.
    • Switching up when you say “yes” and when you say “no” is a good way to make yourself unpredictable and keep them on their toes.
3

Remove all emotion from your reactions to them.

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    If they can’t get your attention, they might try to elicit a negative emotional response from you and paint themselves as a victim. They’ll point to your outburst as evidence that you’re mean or volatile. Confuse them by keeping your cool—put on a neutral face, speak calmly, and stick to the facts. Don’t mention anything about how you feel or bring up past emotional experiences with them. [4] Disarm them by:
    • Non-judgmentally commenting on what’s happening, like “There isn’t a reason to be upset right now” or “Your behavior seems aggressive.”
    • Giving them simple “yes” or “no” answers to their questions and trying not to directly agree or disagree with them.
    • Using your body language to show them you’re relaxed and unbothered: keep your muscles relaxed and your arms uncrossed.
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4

Bore them with the “gray rock” treatment.

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    Manipulative or self-absorbed people may only want others around to use them or to entertain themselves. If you don’t have anything to offer them, they’ll get puzzled and leave you alone. To use the gray rock method , don't show any physical expression, respond in as few words as possible, and be as boring and unhelpful as you can be. [5]
    • This is a great, subtle tactic to use when you’re stuck with this person and can’t remove yourself from the situation.
    • They’ll likely poke and prod to get some kind of rise out of you. Eventually, they’ll either drop their manipulative act and interact with you in a polite and maybe even genuine way—or they’ll leave you alone to seek attention from someone else.
Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: Am I Dating a Narcissist?

Only a mental health professional can diagnose Narcissistic Personality Disorder), but there are plenty of red flags you can look out for. Take this quiz to find out where you stand.
1 of 12

How did they act when you first started dating?

5

Guard your sensitive information closely.

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    They’ll find ways to twist your secrets, past experiences, or insecurities to their own advantage. The solution? Be an enigma to them and offer no personal information about yourself. The less they have on you, the more confused they’ll be by you. [6]
    • It’s hard to withhold information if you live with a narcissistic family member or partner. Try to only share what’s necessary.
    • Keep conversations brief and avoid personal topics like your childhood or love life. Always speak carefully when you answer their questions about you.
    • It’s hard for manipulative people to misquote silence. When in doubt, just stop talking to them.
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6

Walk away while they’re talking.

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    Their game is mostly verbal, so confuse them by simply not playing along. Look for ways mid-chat to leave them hanging—use the restroom, fake a phone call, or find an excuse to end the conversation . They’ll doubt their manipulative abilities if they can’t hold you in a conversation. [7]
    • Disengaging is a self-care tactic too. Talking with a self-absorbed or toxic person can often feel frustrating, depleting, and like you’re hitting your head against a wall.
    • If they start to yell or get verbally abusive, leave the room or hang up the phone to reinforce that you will not let them talk that way to you.
7

Cut off all communication.

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    They’re the ones that are used to discarding people, so when it happens in reverse, they feel confused, defeated, and maybe even panicked. Don’t answer their calls, texts, or DM’s, or interact with them at all if you can help it. [8]
    • The more desperate they are for attention, the uglier their attempts to reach you will be.
    • Going “no contact” is a tool many controlling people use to passive-aggressively manipulate others. They’ll be thrown off by a taste of their own medicine.
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8

Point out their dishonesty directly.

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    They’re used to everyone believing them or just going along with it. Be blunt and tell them, “You’ll say anything to seem right.” They’ll flail and lie again to save face, so just call them out again (“See? You just did it again!”). [9]
    • This tactic is even more effective if you do it while other people are around to witness it.
9

Ask them questions about their faulty logic.

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    A simple clarifying question directed back at them will give them pause. They’ll often do a total 180 and change opinions, ideas, or stories when they realize you’re not falling for their faulty logic. [10] Ask them things like:
    • “Can you explain that timeline again? It sounds like you were in 2 places at the same time…”
    • “Did you mean to take all the credit for a team project, or was that an accident?”
    • “Are you asking me to help you with the yardwork, or just to do it all for you?”
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10

Shine the spotlight on someone else.

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    People with massive egos are usually self-absorbed because their self-esteem is secretly really low. They cling to validation and may feel threatened or confused when someone else receives recognition. So combat their need to be the center of attention by putting someone else in the spotlight. They’ll be confused when they see others getting validation that they think belongs to them. [11] Try:
    • Clarifying who they have to share credit with for projects or group assignments.
    • Prompting someone to share an interesting story at a party.
11

Do your best instead of letting them win.

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    It just doesn’t fit with their constructed fantasy. They discourage competition by making others feel less important, capable, valuable, skilled, or special. Put them in their place by not holding back in competition with them.
    • Perform at your best, whether you're playing a board game or recreational sport.
    • Take a leadership role at school, at work, or in the community.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Why do narcissists suddenly act nice?
    Jay Reid, LPCC
    Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
    Jay Reid is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) in private practice in San Francisco, CA. He specializes in helping clients who have survived a narcissistic parent or partner. Treatment focuses upon helping clients identify and challenge self-diminishing beliefs as a result of narcissistic abuse. Jay holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania and an MS in Clinical Psychology from Penn State University.
    Jay Reid, LPCC
    Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor
    Expert Answer
    When you start to pull away, narcissists will try to suck you back in. They may suddenly be really nice to you to bait you. However, they'll go back to their old ways after you get comfortable again.
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  • Question
    Is it possible to have a healthy relationship with a narcissist?
    Ruby
    Top Answerer
    Yes. Relationships can be difficult for people on both sides of the relationship, but openness can help a relationship. Narcissistic personality disorder can be difficult for the person who has it, and it can also affect their relationships, so it's important to understand the disorder. You should both be able to communicate your boundaries and be open about your feelings. If this is difficult, you can try relationships therapy.
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  • Question
    Why do narcissists not want to comfort their partner who is in pain?
    Ruby
    Top Answerer
    They may lack empathy. This means that they find it hard to put themselves in someone else's shoes. For this reason, they may not be able to understand why their partner is in pain. A lack of empathy doesn't make someone a bad person, but it can make relationships difficult. You should encourage openness in your relationship and to communicate your feelings better.
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      Tips

      • Remember that not everyone with clinical NDP is abusive or manipulative, and many people with NPD are able to manage their behavior with therapy and/or medication. [12]
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      • If their behavior hurts you, it’s important to set boundaries or distance yourself from them.
        Thanks
      • It’s usually better to disengage a manipulative or toxic person than to try to confuse or confront them, especially if they’re abusive.
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        References

        1. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662
        2. ↑ https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/narcissistic-routines
        3. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/5-types-people-who-can-ruin-your-life/202109/4-tips-saying-no-narcissist
        4. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/peaceful-parenting/201810/how-bypass-narcissist
        5. ↑ https://www.insider.com/how-to-use-gray-rock-method-narcissist-no-contact-2019-6
        6. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/peaceful-parenting/201810/how-bypass-narcissist
        7. ↑ https://upjourney.com/how-to-communicate-with-a-narcissist
        8. ↑ https://upjourney.com/how-to-make-a-narcissist-fear-you
        9. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/ambigamy/202002/how-humiliate-absolute-narcissist
        1. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/communication-success/201705/how-talk-narcissist-about-being-narcissistic
        2. ↑ https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/malignant-self-love/narcissists-reaction-to-deficient-narcissistic-supply
        3. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20366662

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