Discussion Thread: New York Criminal Fraud Trial of Donald Trump, Day 16

7 comments

1. It’s Cohen day!

2. A potentially monumental day, and yet I feel zero hope.

3. Been waiting for Cohen day, can’t wait to hear what he’s got to say.

4. Narcissistic injury–sometimes known as a narcissistic wound, wounded ego, or ego deflation–happens when those with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) face criticism, betrayal, or perceived abandonment. Narcissists often respond to perceived slights with hostility disproportionate to the event.

   Narcissists typically don’t feel remorse or empathy for others, so they may readily resort to anger or rage when confronted. Moreover, narcissists possess grandiose self-images and “higher than thou” attitudes connected to beliefs of superiority and greatness. However, when their behavior is questioned, the deep-rooted insecurities hidden behind this facade are called to attention. Emotional wounds of this caliber are challenging for narcissists to move past, as being vulnerable or held accountable is unbearable. Therefore, they will seek revenge against the inflictor when their self-esteemed is threatened or injured.

   The length of a narcissistic injury depends on the person and the event. It may take longer for a narcissist to recover from significant abandonment, such as a divorce or ending employment. No matter the situation, they see the event as an extreme insult, even if there was no intention of harm. Any damage to their persona brings attention to internalized negative self-beliefs, which can cause long-lasting pain for the narcissist.

   A narcissistic injury stems from humiliation and rejection. Narcissists view these feelings as uncomfortable and unmanageable, so reacting with extreme anger allows them to avoid being vulnerable or revealing their emotions. Thus, an emotional wound can result from seemingly insignificant events that would otherwise be unnoticed by a typical person.

   Possible causes of a narcissistic injury include:

   1. Being ignored: A narcissist can easily experience a narcissistic injury when they feel ignored, undervalued, or “not seen” by others. If a narcissist is not provided with adequate attention, they may feel slighted or personally insulted.

   2. A break-up: A narcissist may perceive the end of a relationship as an injury or abandonment, especially if they want to stay with their partner.
   Criticism: Receiving criticism is unbearable for narcissists as it questions their grandiose self-image and persona.

   3. Feeling out of control: If narcissists lose control over a situation or person, they may feel emotionally wounded and retaliate.

   4. Conflict in a conversation: Conversational conflict can result in a narcissistic injury because narcissists cannot imagine that others do not share their same beliefs, values, or opinions.

   5. Perceived abandonment: Perceived abandonment, such as canceling a date, ending a relationship, or leaving without saying goodbye, can trigger narcissistic injury.

   6. The success of another person: Watching others receive praise or recognition can be difficult for narcissists as they are no longer the center of attention.

   A narcissistic injury can look different depending on the narcissist, situation, and type of relationship. While reactions vary, certain red flags hint that a narcissist is wounded. Being aware of these signs of narcissistic injury can protect you from dealing with the repercussions and consequences associated with this type of behavior.

   Below are 12 signs of a narcissistic injury:

   1. Denial is usually one of the first signs of narcissistic injury. Someone with NPD will automatically deny what happened to cover up shame or embarrassment from being held accountable. Narcissists may lie about accusations when they feel slighted or worry that their behavior will be outed.

   2. Passive-Aggressive Behavior. Many narcissists respond to emotional injury or perceived slight with passive-aggressive behaviors. For instance, they may “forget” to send an email or “misplace” their part of a project. They often do so to create an image of indifference toward the viewpoints and opinions of others. The hope is that people will eventually stop questioning their behavior altogether.

   3. Silent Treatment. Some narcissists may shut down, isolate themselves, or employ silent treatments when wounded. This behavior is intended to punish the person who committed the betrayal. While a covert narcissist is more likely to react this way, anyone with unhealthy coping skills may behave similarly to cope with uncomfortable feelings.

   4. Narcissistic Rage. Some narcissists, particularly those resembling malignant narcissists, may react to slights by lashing out in narcissistic rage. This could include bullying, taunting, yelling, intimidation, narcissistic smear campaigns, or other forms of narcissistic abuse. Rage, while viewed as an unhealthy reaction, redirects attention away from one’s behavior, even if only for a moment.

   5. Physical Violence. Narcissists may resort to violence when experiencing a narcissistic injury with physical attacks, property damage, or threats of harm. However, these behaviors should never be tolerated, and victims should contact supervisors and law enforcement when they occur.

   6. Devaluation. Narcissists engage in behaviors such as devaluation when they experience an injury or encounter criticism. These reactions are commonly known as narcissistic discards, which occur when narcissists cut ties with individuals who have “wronged” them. Narcissists may also belittle inflictors by insulting something about their lives, such as their accomplishments or appearance.

   7. Projection. Projection occurs when unwanted feelings or emotions are cast onto someone else. For example, narcissists may deflect attention from their behavior by accusing others of committing the same mistakes. In short, narcissistic projection shifts blame from the narcissist onto their accuser.

   8. Playing the Victim. Narcissists believe they are the victims in every situation, and this mindset may stem from a victim mentality or cognitive distortions. Regardless, narcissists expect to be pitied when held accountable for their behavior or their facade is questioned.

   9. Gaslighting distorts the reality of a situation and makes a person question their memory of an event. Narcissists may use phrases such as, “I never said that,” or, “You must be crazy.” Narcissistic gaslighting is generally a defense mechanism employed when narcissists feel their ego is threatened or damaged.

   10. Engaging in a Smear Campaign. Making up false accusations and lies about a target is a common result of narcissistic injury. This behavior is called a narcissistic smear campaign and is done to discredit the target and harm their reputation. Common elements of a smear campaign include labeling the target as mentally ill, or a drug addict, and trying to harm their position as a parent, employee, and member of society.

   11. Making Threats. Making threats to harm a person or their reputation, such as saying “If you leave, you will be sorry” are common phrases narcissists say. These are all elements of verbal abuse and should never be tolerated. Take all threats seriously; do not just assume they will calm down.

   12. Manipulation. It is common for someone with NPD to engage in elements of manipulation when they feel emotionally threatened. Begging for forgiveness in an attempt to reel you back in, hoovering, and other things are all common narcissistic manipulation tactics.

5. I suspect more murmuring, sputtering, poofing, gesturing, note passing, and hushed conversations with his lawyers from the orange man today than sleeping and eye resting contemplation

6. Today is a good day.

7. I’m hoping for a full fledged shit flinging meltdown today