How does a narcissist treat a woman?
A narcissist’s treatment of a woman can vary depending on the individual and the dynamics of the relationship. However, narcissists generally exhibit specific patterns of behavior that are characteristic of their personality disorder. It’s important to note that narcissism exists on a spectrum, and not all individuals with narcissistic traits will exhibit the same behaviors to the same extent. Nevertheless, here are some common ways in which a narcissist may treat a woman:

Grandiosity and Self-Importance: A Narcissist’s Perception of Women
A narcissist’s perception of women is often shaped by their grandiosity and self-importance. Narcissists have an inflated sense of self-worth and a deep need for admiration and validation. This distorted perception can significantly impact how they view and interact with women. Here are some key aspects of a narcissist’s perception of women:
Objectification:
Narcissists tend to objectify women, seeing them as mere extensions of themselves or as objects to fulfill their needs and desires. They may prioritize a woman’s physical appearance or social status over her individuality, personality, and emotions. This objectification can lead to a lack of respect and empathy for the woman as a person with her own thoughts, feelings, and autonomy.
Superiority:
Narcissists often perceive themselves as superior to others, including women. They may believe that they possess exceptional qualities, talents, or achievements that make them more deserving of attention, admiration, and success. As a result, they may view women as inferior or as objects that exist to enhance their self-image or cater to their needs.
Control and Dominance:
Narcissists have a strong desire for control and dominance in relationships. They may seek to exert power over women, using manipulation, intimidation, or coercion to ensure their compliance and obedience. They may feel threatened by a woman’s independence, assertiveness, or success, and may attempt to diminish her accomplishments or assert dominance over her.
Validation and Narcissistic Supply:
Narcissists crave constant validation and attention from others to maintain their fragile self-esteem. Women may be perceived as potential sources of narcissistic supply, providing the admiration, adoration, and attention that the narcissist seeks. They may expect women to constantly praise and affirm them, and become frustrated or angry when their needs for validation are not met.
Idealization and Devaluation:
Narcissists often engage in a cycle of idealization and devaluation in their relationships. Initially, they may idealize women, placing them on a pedestal and idealizing their qualities and attributes. However, this idealization is often short-lived, as the narcissist’s unrealistic expectations are not met. They may quickly shift to devaluing the woman, criticizing, belittling, or demeaning her, and seeking out new sources of admiration and validation.
It is important to note that these perceptions and behaviors are not exclusive to all narcissists or all men. Women can also exhibit narcissistic traits and engage in similar patterns of behavior. Additionally, it is crucial to remember that not all individuals who exhibit narcissistic behavior have a diagnosed narcissistic personality disorder.
Manipulation and Gaslighting: Tactics Employed by Narcissists in Relationships with Women
Manipulation and gaslighting are two common tactics employed by narcissists in relationships with women. These manipulative strategies serve to maintain control, undermine the woman’s self-esteem, and distort her perception of reality. Understanding these tactics can help individuals recognize and address them. Here’s an overview of manipulation and gaslighting:
Manipulation:
Narcissists are skilled manipulators who use various techniques to influence and control their partners. Some common manipulation tactics used by narcissists in relationships with women include:
Guilt-tripping: Narcissists often manipulate women by making them feel guilty for their own needs, desires, or actions. They may use emotional manipulation to evoke a sense of shame or responsibility, effectively making the woman doubt herself and prioritize the narcissist’s wishes.
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- Emotional blackmail: Narcissists may use emotional blackmail to manipulate women into compliance. They might threaten to end the relationship, withdraw affection, or engage in other punitive behaviors to make the woman conform to their expectations or demands.
- Triangulation: Narcissists may create triangles within the relationship, involving a third person to instigate jealousy or competition. By introducing another person into the dynamic, they can further manipulate the woman’s emotions and keep her off balance.
- Isolation: Narcissists may attempt to isolate women from their support networks, such as family and friends, in order to increase their control over them. This isolation makes the woman more dependent on the narcissist, making it easier for them to manipulate and exert power.
- Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a manipulative tactic used by narcissists to distort a woman’s perception of reality, making her doubt her own memory, perception, and sanity. Gaslighting often involves the following behaviors:
- Denial and distortion: Narcissists may deny or distort events, conversations, or promises, making the woman question her own recollection of events. They might say things like, “That never happened,” or “You’re just imagining things,” leading the woman to doubt her memory and question her own sanity.
- Minimization and invalidation: Narcissists may downplay or invalidate a woman’s feelings, experiences, or concerns. They may dismiss her emotions as overreactions or label her as “too sensitive” or “crazy,” undermining her self-confidence and making her question the validity of her own emotions.
- Blaming and shifting responsibility: Narcissists often deflect blame onto the woman, making her feel responsible for their negative behaviors or emotions. They may twist the narrative to make her believe she caused the problems in the relationship, further eroding her self-esteem.
- Confusion and contradiction: Narcissists may engage in contradictory behaviors, making it difficult for the woman to make sense of their intentions or actions. They might say one thing and do another, creating confusion and making it easier for the narcissist to manipulate the woman’s perceptions.
Recognizing manipulation and gaslighting is crucial in protecting oneself from emotional harm in a relationship. It is important for women to trust their instincts, maintain a support network, establish healthy boundaries, and seek professional help if necessary.
Emotional Abuse and Devaluation: How Narcissists Treat Women’s Feelings and Worth
Narcissists often engage in emotional abuse and devaluation when it comes to treating women’s feelings and worth. These behaviors can have a significant impact on a woman’s self-esteem, emotional well-being, and overall sense of worthiness. Here’s an overview of how narcissists treat women’s feelings and worth:
Emotional Abuse:
Narcissists employ various forms of emotional abuse to exert control and undermine a woman’s emotional well-being. Some common tactics include:
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- Verbal attacks: Narcissists may engage in name-calling, insults, or belittling comments to demean and degrade a woman. They may use hurtful language to attack her character, appearance, or abilities, aiming to break down her self-esteem.
- Invalidating emotions: Narcissists often dismiss, minimize, or invalidate a woman’s feelings and experiences. They may undermine her emotions, telling her she is overreacting, being too sensitive, or simply wrong about her own feelings. This invalidation can lead to self-doubt and confusion.
- Gaslighting: As mentioned before, gaslighting is a manipulation tactic employed by narcissists to distort a woman’s perception of reality. By making her doubt her own memory, perception, and sanity, the narcissist can invalidate her emotions and make her feel crazy or unstable.
- Withholding affection and love: Narcissists may use love and affection as a tool for control. They may withhold affection, attention, or love as a means of punishment or to manipulate the woman into compliance with their desires or demands. This emotional withdrawal can create anxiety, self-doubt, and a desperate need for validation.
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Devaluation:
- Narcissists often devalue women in their relationships, gradually eroding their sense of worth and self-esteem. This devaluation can manifest in several ways:
- Criticism and contempt: Narcissists may constantly criticize and find fault with the woman, making her feel inadequate and unworthy. They may belittle her achievements, undermine her capabilities, and express contempt for her aspirations or interests.
- Comparison to others: Narcissists may compare the woman unfavorably to others, highlighting their perceived flaws or shortcomings. By comparing her to idealized versions of others, the narcissist reinforces the woman’s feelings of inadequacy and inferiority.
- Infidelity or emotional affairs: Some narcissists engage in infidelity or emotional affairs, seeking validation and attention from other sources. This betrayal of trust can severely impact a woman’s self-esteem and sense of worth, making her question her desirability and value in the relationship.
- Discarding and replacing: Ultimately, a narcissist may discard the woman when they no longer serve their needs or fulfill their idealized image. This sudden devaluation and rejection can leave the woman feeling abandoned, worthless, and deeply hurt.
It is important for women in relationships with narcissists to recognize these patterns of emotional abuse and devaluation. Seeking support from friends, family, or professionals can be crucial in rebuilding self-esteem and establishing healthy boundaries. Remember, no one deserves to be mistreated or made to feel unworthy.
Control and Power Struggles: Narcissistic Behavior Patterns in Relationships with Women
Control and power struggles are common behavioral patterns exhibited by narcissists in relationships with women. Narcissists have an intense need for control and dominance, and they often employ various tactics to assert power over their partners. Here are some key aspects of narcissistic behavior patterns related to control and power struggles:
- Need for control: Narcissists have a deep-seated need to control every aspect of their relationships. They strive to have power over their partners’ thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and even their perception of reality. They may feel threatened by a woman’s independence, assertiveness, or autonomy, and therefore, seek to diminish or eliminate it.
- Manipulation and coercion: Narcissists are skilled manipulators. They use manipulation tactics to influence and control their partners’ actions and decisions. This can include emotional manipulation, guilt-tripping, gaslighting, or other forms of psychological coercion. They may exploit a woman’s vulnerabilities to bend her to their will.
- Imbalance of power: Narcissists strive to maintain a power imbalance in the relationship, where they hold the majority of control and decision-making authority. They may exert power by making unilateral decisions, disregarding a woman’s input or opinions. They may also assert dominance through intimidation, verbal abuse, or other means of exerting control.
- Isolation and dependency: Narcissists often attempt to isolate their partners from friends, family, and support networks. By limiting a woman’s external sources of support and influence, the narcissist becomes the primary and often only source of validation, guidance, and companionship. This isolation makes it easier for the narcissist to maintain control over the woman.
- Power struggles and competition: Narcissists often engage in power struggles and competition within the relationship. They may seek to undermine a woman’s accomplishments, talents, or aspirations, as it threatens their own sense of superiority. They may intentionally create an atmosphere of competition or rivalry to establish their dominance.
- Withholding and conditional love: Narcissists may use love and affection as a tool for control. They may withhold love, emotional support, or intimacy as a means of punishment or manipulation. The woman may feel the need to conform to the narcissist’s desires and expectations in order to regain their love and approval.
- Financial control: In some cases, narcissists exert control over women through financial means. They may control and restrict access to financial resources, making the woman financially dependent on them. This financial control further solidifies their power and dominance within the relationship.
It’s important for women to recognize these patterns of control and power struggles in relationships with narcissists. Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, seeking support from trusted individuals, and considering professional help can be crucial in breaking free from the cycle of control and creating a healthier and more empowering environment. Remember, everyone deserves to be in a relationship based on mutual respect and equality.
Love-Bombing and Intermittent Reinforcement: How Narcissists Engage Women Emotionally
Love-bombing and intermittent reinforcement are manipulative tactics that narcissists often use to engage women emotionally in relationships. These tactics are aimed at capturing and maintaining the woman’s attention, affection, and attachment, while also keeping her off balance and dependent on the narcissist. Here’s an overview of how narcissists employ love-bombing and intermittent reinforcement:
- Love-bombing: Love-bombing is a technique where narcissists overwhelm a woman with intense displays of affection, attention, and adoration in the initial stages of a relationship. They shower her with compliments, gifts, and gestures of love, creating an illusion of a perfect and idealized connection. The purpose of love-bombing is to quickly establish a deep emotional bond, making the woman feel desired, valued, and special.
- Excessive charm and attention: Narcissists excel at charming and captivating their partners. They are skilled at mirroring the woman’s desires, interests, and preferences to create a sense of immediate connection. They may go above and beyond to make her feel seen, heard, and understood, giving her undivided attention and making her believe that she has found her soulmate.
- Accelerated intimacy: Narcissists often push for rapid progression in the relationship, both emotionally and physically. They may declare their love prematurely, express a desire for exclusivity or commitment early on, and push for intense physical intimacy. This accelerated pace creates an artificial sense of deep emotional connection and vulnerability, leading the woman to believe that the relationship is extraordinary and destined to last.
- Idealization and validation: During the love-bombing phase, narcissists idealize the woman, constantly validating her worth, beauty, intelligence, and accomplishments. They make her feel like the most important person in their world, providing an addictive sense of validation and emotional fulfillment. This intense validation boosts her self-esteem and reinforces her attachment to the narcissist.
However, as the relationship progresses, the narcissist’s behavior shifts to intermittent reinforcement:
- Intermittent reinforcement: Once the narcissist has captured the woman’s emotional investment, they start employing intermittent reinforcement. They alternate between periods of affection, validation, and attentiveness, and periods of withdrawal, emotional distance, and coldness. This intermittent cycle of reinforcement and withdrawal creates confusion and emotional dependency in the woman. She becomes uncertain about when she will receive love and validation, leading her to strive for the narcissist’s affection and approval.
- Manipulative control: Intermittent reinforcement is a powerful tool for manipulation. The woman becomes hooked on the sporadic moments of love and validation, desperately seeking their return. She may modify her behavior, compromise her needs, and invest significant emotional energy to gain the narcissist’s intermittent approval and affection.
- Emotional rollercoaster: The combination of love-bombing and intermittent reinforcement creates an emotional rollercoaster for the woman. She experiences a cycle of highs and lows, where she constantly seeks the elusive validation and love from the narcissist. This cycle erodes her self-esteem, creates emotional dependency, and leaves her feeling trapped and powerless.
It is crucial for women to recognize the manipulative nature of love-bombing and intermittent reinforcement in relationships with narcissists. Establishing healthy boundaries, seeking support from trusted individuals, and prioritizing self-care are important steps towards breaking free from the emotional manipulation and establishing healthier relationships based on mutual respect and stability.
Isolation and Dependency: Narcissistic Efforts to Isolate Women and Foster Dependency
Narcissists often employ tactics to isolate women and foster dependency as a means of maintaining control and power within the relationship. By isolating the woman from her support network and creating dependency, the narcissist effectively becomes the primary source of validation, guidance, and companionship. Here are some common strategies used by narcissists to achieve isolation and foster dependency:
- Limiting external relationships: Narcissists may actively discourage or undermine the woman’s relationships with friends, family, and other support systems. They may criticize or belittle her social connections, sow seeds of doubt about their intentions or loyalty, or create conflicts and tensions between the woman and her loved ones. By isolating her, the narcissist diminishes the woman’s access to alternative perspectives, emotional support, and validation.
- Controlling communication: Narcissists often seek to control and monitor the woman’s communication channels. They may insist on being the primary or sole point of contact, demanding constant updates on her interactions with others. They may monitor her phone calls, messages, or emails, or even go as far as preventing her from accessing these channels altogether. By controlling communication, the narcissist limits the woman’s ability to seek help or share her experiences with others.
- Undermining self-confidence: Narcissists systematically undermine a woman’s self-confidence and self-worth, making her increasingly reliant on their validation and approval. They may criticize her abilities, intelligence, appearance, or decisions, constantly chipping away at her self-esteem. This erosion of self-confidence makes the woman more susceptible to the narcissist’s manipulation and less likely to seek support or challenge their control.
- Financial control: Narcissists may exert control over the woman’s finances as a means of fostering dependency. They may limit her access to financial resources, require her to seek permission or justification for spending, or even control her income or assets. By controlling the financial aspect of the relationship, the narcissist further solidifies their power and makes it difficult for the woman to assert independence.
- Emotional manipulation and dependency: Narcissists use emotional manipulation to create and perpetuate dependency in the relationship. They may oscillate between affection and withdrawal, providing intermittent validation and love. The woman becomes conditioned to seek their love and approval, striving to meet their ever-changing demands and expectations. This emotional rollercoaster fosters a sense of dependency, as the woman believes her happiness and self-worth are contingent upon the narcissist’s validation.
Discarding and Hoovering: The Cycle of Disposal and Reengagement in Relationships with Women
Discarding and hoovering are two phases in the cycle of disposal and reengagement that narcissists often employ in relationships with women. These phases are part of a manipulative pattern where the narcissist alternates between devaluing and discarding the woman and attempting to draw her back into the relationship. Here’s an explanation of each phase:
- Discarding: During the discarding phase, the narcissist abruptly and often callously ends the relationship or withdraws emotional investment. This can be a devastating experience for the woman involved. The discarding phase may be triggered by the narcissist feeling that the woman no longer serves their needs or meets their idealized image. They may become bored, find new sources of validation, or simply lose interest.
- Emotional detachment: The narcissist becomes emotionally distant and withdraws affection, intimacy, and support. They may display a lack of empathy or concern for the woman’s feelings, dismissing her pain or emotional turmoil.
- Devaluation: The narcissist may engage in a series of negative behaviors, such as criticism, belittling, or even engaging in emotional or physical abuse. This devaluation aims to diminish the woman’s self-esteem and further erode her sense of worth.
- Idealizing new sources: During the discarding phase, the narcissist may actively seek out new sources of validation and attention. They may idealize and pursue new partners or indulge in other activities that boost their ego and fulfill their needs.
- Hoovering: After discarding, the narcissist may engage in hoovering, an attempt to draw the woman back into the relationship. The term “hoovering” refers to the vacuum cleaner brand, as the narcissist tries to suck the woman back in. This phase can be characterized by manipulation, promises of change, and attempts to reignite the woman’s attachment.
- Manipulation and charm: The narcissist may employ manipulation tactics to regain control and influence over the woman. They may use flattery, charm, and nostalgia to evoke positive memories and emotions from the past. They may promise change, seek forgiveness, or attempt to portray themselves as the victim, appealing to the woman’s empathy.
- Love-bombing: Similar to the initial stages of the relationship, the narcissist may engage in love-bombing, showering the woman with affection, attention, and promises of a better future together. This sudden outpouring of love and validation can be overwhelming and tempting for the woman.
- False hope and cycle repetition: The hoovering phase often aims to keep the woman engaged in the cycle of the relationship. The narcissist may rekindle hope for a renewed and improved connection, making it difficult for the woman to detach and move on.
Breaking the cycle of disposal and reengagement can be challenging for women in relationships with narcissists. Recognizing the manipulation tactics, setting boundaries, seeking support from trusted individuals, and prioritizing self-care are crucial steps towards breaking free from the toxic cycle and establishing healthier relationships. Remember, everyone deserves to be in a relationship based on respect, empathy, and mutual well-being.