Number 4: “I’m just kidding.”
Narcissists have a knack for using humor as a shield to dodge taking responsibility. They’ll say or do something, and if it stirs up trouble, they’re like, “Hey, I was just joking!” Suddenly, if you’re upset, it’s because you can’t take a joke, not because they’ve said or done something wrong. It’s a slick way to sidestep blame and keep you from calling out their behavior for what it really is.
A Book: Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men.
Think of it this way. When a narcissist cracks a joke about another person’s looks, like teasing them about dieting, especially when others are around, it can be super embarrassing and really hurtful. It’s even worse when that person is actually suffering from an eating disorder, right? Making comments about touchy subjects like weight can seriously upset people. Brushing it off as just a joke makes it even worse. This is because such jokes can cause long-lasting hurt and trauma. But narcissists don’t really care about that. What they care about is looking good in front of others and getting a kick out of putting people down. And to them, that person just can’t take a joke.
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