Is A Covert Narcissist Dangerous? Yes, Here Are 10 Reasons Why

Now, covert narcissists are slippery characters and like to believe that their superior intelligence sets them one step ahead of the others. Although, don’t let this scare you, because, with a little analysis, it’s possible to pick up on their traits, no matter how well they believe they dissimulate them. Even though they might not seem overly arrogant, their grandiosity transpires in a more backdoor manner, for example, they’ll attempt to discredit people’s achievements or claim that thing certain things are beneath them. Plus, they won’t hesitate to play the victim and will always claim that everyone is against them and out to get them. The fact they manage to hide their true intentions makes them even more menacing and threatening…

Why are covert narcissists so dangerous?

Here are 10 reasons why these folks terrify me, and why they should put you on edge too.

1) They are difficult to spot

Just like any ill-intentioned people, when the spotlight isn’t on them, they wreak havoc and really go to town. With them switching on the victim persona and being able to turn on the waterworks on cue, these folks really do believe they can blend in and get people to feel sorry for them. Plus, for them, the idea of being unsuspected validates their intelligence, which gives them a huge boost of adrenaline.

2) They take deviousness to the next level

Compared to typical textbook narcissists, the coverts are even scarier because they have even less empathy, feel more entitled, and are even more passive-aggressive. Coverts make the typical narcs look harmless, which does truly take some doing. The truth is they are capable of absolutely anything, plus they have no regard for anyone’s mental health, making them a completely toxic combination of pent-up insidiousness.  

3) Their goal is to get you hooked

From love bombing to intense flattery on social media, a covert’s mission is to get you to fall under their spell. Having control over people is what they desire most, and also gives them confirmation that they are powerful and important. In actual fact, they don’t even consider those they sink their teeth into as people, instead, they see them as their little minions.

4) They move at lightning speed

There’s no hanging around where these folks are concerned. When they have a goal in mind, they lay the groundwork necessary to achieve it in no time. Although this may sound like a quality, in reality, they never actually use their work ethic to do anything constructive or good, no, these guys only believe in destroying and breaking things down…

5) They sap your energy

Their constant whining about their lives and how they are always picked on are carefully created narratives used to pull the wool over their victim’s eyes. If a covert narcissist can get someone to feel sorry for them by playing the poor me act, then they’ll seem utterly inoffensive and be free to do whatever they please.

6) They are vindictive

By persistently playing the downtrodden victim, certain coverts eventually start to believe their own lies and therefore want revenge on people they deem to be dismissive towards them. When they have a grudge against someone, the level of danger they pose flies off the chart.

7) Gaslighting and manipulation thrill them

Whilst most people get their dose of serotonin from food, sex, or even sport, these guys get their kicks from toying with their victims.

8) They fail to recognize their wrongdoings and don’t care about them either

If there was ever a lack of empathy contest, then I’d happily place a huge bet on these skilled manipulators coming in the first place.

9) They use your weaknesses against you

Like any self-respecting manipulator and gaslighter, these folks know exactly how to analyze people in a flash, and are therefore able to spot even the slightest weakness within them. 

10) They are true chameleons

Above all, what makes covert narcissists so dangerous is their ability to manipulate the narrative surrounding them. Their acting skills are so fine-tuned that they fool people into a false sense of security by making them believe they ought to feel sorry for them. In the blink of an eye, they can slide into the role of anything necessary to win them sympathy credentials.

8 Things covert narcissists say

We’ve all heard of covert narcissists before, but the truth is they can be very hard to identify. This is an individual who has a demeaning image of himself and who values himself by belittling others. This person gives himself the appearance of being superior to others and feels an exacerbated need to be admired. Here are some examples of things covert narcissists say

1) "It's only in your head"

He seeks to make you believe that you are crazy and take control over what you think.

2) "Without me, you are nothing"

If you decide to leave your partner, he will try to dissuade you by making you believe that you are too weak to get by without him.

3) “But I never said that”

He will always try to clear himself of a situation by not assuming his past words or behavior.

4) "I understand, but…"

The narcissist will be sympathetic while trying to turn the situation around, so that you don't resent him.

5) “You always see the bad side of things”

For him, no matter what he does, it's never serious, and if you don't like it, it's because you're overreacting.

6) "I can't ask you anything"

The covert narcissist will always try to devalue you, make you lose your self-confidence, and gain control over your thoughts.

7) "I told you so"

In a family or friendly conflict, the covert narcissist will always make sure to divide in order to conquer better. So, if he always denigrates a person with whom you had a dispute, it is to further distance you from this person.

8) "You don't understand what I'm trying to tell you"

He will try to turn the situation around and manipulate you into believing that you never understand his intentions.

Are covert narcissists violent?

As a rule of thumb, whilst covert narcissists aren’t typically physically violent, they act in passive-aggressive and manipulative ways. Now, they probably won’t ever lose their minds and openly hit out at their victims, but they will torture them emotionally and mentally. These folks operate in underground ways in order to go undetected they’ll never inflict physical harm on anyone, to avoid leaving marks that could incriminate them. However, they take pleasure in destroying people’s mental health and get their kicks out of gaslighting and denigrating their targets. Their emotional insensitivity is just as painful as being physically attacked, and unfortunately, their victim’s mental scars never fade away.

Are covert narcissists lazy?

No, covert narcissists aren’t lazy because they are constantly on their toes in an attempt to cover their own tracks. Covert narcissists spend their time dissimulating their actions and their bad behavior, which by the way, requires lots of effort and dedication. Keeping up a facade is tough work and isn’t a task for the faint-hearted. When you have a very controlling and manipulative personality, making other people believe that you are completely harmless is very time-consuming.

Be sure to check out these articles too;

• The green flags to look for in a relationship
• Do narcissists enjoy kissing?
• The differences between being narcissistic and self-centered