Empathy is the key to maintaining close and healthy relationships, but it is often manipulated by a narcissist. It may be difficult to decipher whether a person needs help or is playing the victim to trick you. Here are five ways to tell.
A person who immediately talks about a hardship from the past when they are confronted or caught doing something hurtful may be playing the victim.
For example, Anne is in a committed relationship with Steve, who is planning to propose. Steve leaves work early to stop at the jewelry store to look for rings. As he passes a cafe close to the jewelers, through the window, he sees Anne snuggling up to her co-worker in a booth at the corner of the restaurant. He feels nauseous and races back to his car to get his bearings. Steve takes a few deep breaths and reassures himself that Anne probably has a logical explanation.
That evening when Steve talks to Anne, she immediately begins to cry. She can barely talk through her tears. Steve feels awful and is unsure of what to do. Anne brings up how badly she has been hurt in the past and that several of her partners have cheated on her. She embarks on elaborate stories about how badly she has been deceived. She says that she has trust issues and sometimes........