The Generous Narcissist

It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

I watch the television with closed captions because my family is often not up when I am. On a live or real-time broadcast, it must be difficult to keep up with the dialog. Sometimes the little mistakes are hilarious. Recently, someone passed away and the news people were interviewing family and friends. One of them said, according to the closed caption, “He was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off your back.”

When I stopped laughing, I realized that I know people like that: generous narcissists. Oh yes, there are such people. In fact, they will puzzle you. They give generous gifts, volunteer for service, and offer all kinds of help. But, when you look more closely at how things turn out, the narcissist hasn’t really done anything.

An illustration of this was a man in a church who attached himself to a landscaping project we were doing. He came to the leadership and said, “If you get me a group of guys and a tractor, I’ll get that job done.” Fortunately, the leaders were wise enough to see the truth. They had to get the workers. They had to get the tractor. The workers would do the work, and the “volunteer” would sit on the tractor. He offered to give them what they already had—and was willing to accept the credit.

A narcissist will use your money to buy you a gift and expect your thanks. She will redo work you have already done and expect credit. He will take your words and repeat them back to you as though they were his and expect you to be impressed. He may bring you flowers he picked in your yard. She will convince you to bake a cake she can bring to the event. Generous narcissists are usually sponges.

Now, there are times when the narcissist gives sacrificially. Narcissists generally believe that people can be manipulated by certain words or actions. If a generous gift will open a door or convince a person, the narcissist might be generous. But he will remember. The person who receives the gift will owe the narcissist. Special attention, agreement, special privilege, whatever. The narcissist expects the gift to accomplish something.

Again, we have to understand the motivation and perspective of the narcissist. No one is deserving of kindness. No one is worth a sacrifice. The kindness must have a purpose for the narcissist. He can appear to be kind and generous, but he is still self-serving. She may appear to want to help, may even help, but her help comes at a price. Your loyalty, your time and energy, your favor, your reciprocating thanks—these may be expected.

The generous narcissist is a phantom. He/she might seem to exist…but nope!

Self-love?

It’s Narcissist Friday!    

 

As the subject of narcissism becomes more popular, the resources for counsel will become more available. Some of these resources will not understand the truth about narcissism. I keep running across writings and videos where the counselors consider narcissism to be simple “self-love” gone to extreme. I have ranted about the idea of “healthy narcissism” in the past, and probably will again, but those who think narcissism is just self-love are wrong. There’s a lot more to it than that.

In fact, if you think of narcissism as only self-love, many observable things won’t fit. The sudden rage, the continual discontent, the lies, the insecurity, just to name a few. You would think that someone who loves himself would be secure and at peace, wouldn’t you? But few who know their narcissists would describe them as secure or at peace.

No, most who have studied narcissism in depth and over time seem to agree that the narcissist does not love what he/she considers to be self. Instead, they create an image, a fantasy self, to hide the reality they believe. Whatever happened to them as children, they decided that the way to handle it was to become something they were not. They believed that they were unlikeable, unworthy, and unable. So they created an image of themselves that was outgoing, successful, and superior. To do this, they learned to mimic the behavior of those they admired. If they saw someone loved by almost everyone, they imitated that person. If they saw someone successful in work or school, they acted like that person. If they saw someone admired by others, they mimicked the one who got the attention. And they found that they could control others by controlling the attention others gave to them.

But none of this comes out of self-love. The image of the narcissist is not the narcissist. He/she wants you to think it is, but he/she does not believe it is. In fact, the reason the image is defended so strongly against challenges is to stop people from learning the truth. The image is phony. The real narcissist is hiding.

Some suspect that the narcissist doesn’t even know his/her true self. Because of the broken childhood (or whatever trauma), the narcissist did not receive the feedback good relationships provide to help us understand who we are. Without a basic understanding of self, the narcissist cannot empathize with others, cannot even see others as fellow beings. Hence, the depersonalization and exploitation of others. So the “self” the narcissist hides may also be false. We cannot know ourselves without heart connections with others.

Counselors, teachers, and authors who suggest that narcissism is merely self-love often refer to “healthy narcissism.” They suggest that narcissism is a continuum from good to bad, rather than from bad to worse. We are able and willing to accept that there are hints of narcissism in us and that those hints are negative even in our lives. Yet, these teachers tell us that narcissism is basically good and only too much of it is hurtful, like sugar or sunshine. This not only confuses us, it moves us to open ourselves even more to the abusers. We miss the fact of the narcissistic system in the mind and heart of the narcissist. We are led to believe that the narcissist thinks just like we do, only worse. We are forced to try to empathize with a person whose personal belief system is radically different from ours.

Self-love is both a normal and appropriate—and healthy—human attribute. From it springs our sense of value and our need for self-care. Accepting the fact that we have abilities and ideas to offer others is truly a good thing. It is not narcissism. Narcissism is a dark and broken thing, a pervasive fear that depersonalizes and exploits others.

I have suggested that healthy narcissism should be compared to healthy cancer. Cell growth and division is normal and healthy. Cancer is abnormal, dangerous, and uncontrolled cell growth. These cells invade tissues and organs in which they do not belong. They cause damage and may lead to death. No one refers to healthy cancer. No one should refer to healthy narcissism.

 

 

If you are interested in reading more about the image of the narcissist, check out these posts:

https://graceformyheart.wordpress.com/2011/05/06/image-addiction/

https://graceformyheart.wordpress.com/2015/10/02/the-impostor/

Contrived Helplessness

It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

Every once in a while I come up with a term for a narcissistic behavior only to find that the term is already being used for something else. I have wanted to write about a certain type of narcissist who controls others by being needy. I thought that the helplessness these people exhibit is a learned behavior. So I looked up “Learned helplessness.” Yes, it is a psychological term used for those who have tried a certain task repeatedly without success, then have become convinced that they are unable to do the task. A kidnap victim, for example, may try to run away and fail over and over, then give up and become unable to take advantage of real opportunities. Some of the more famous kidnapping cases, like Elizabeth Smart and Jaycee Dugard, may be examples of this inability in victims to help themselves.

Of course, I realized that I couldn’t really apply the term to “needy” narcissists. But before I left the idea altogether, I remembered that narcissists are often mimics. They watch others to see what works: who gets attention and service. Some are loud and obnoxious, having learned that intimidation works. Others are critical and cruel, having learned that abusive behavior works. But some are needy because they learned that helplessness works.

So I am going to call this “Contrived Helplessness.” It is learned, as are all the narcissist techniques, but it is not a response to real trauma, at least not to different trauma than most of us suffer through our lives. Instead, this is a method of control, using others to meet needs and desires.

The Needy Narcissist wants you to do things for her/him. But she can’t just ask you. You have to want to do these things. You have to value the narcissist enough to serve with enthusiasm. That way you become the servant by choice.

Needy narcissists will express themselves with what seems like humility. They tell you what they can’t do. Whereas the normal narcissist brags, the needy narcissist whines and moans. He doesn’t have enough money for lunch. She can’t get all her work done. Too many expectations. Too many aches and pains. Too weak. Too old. Too traumatized. Too sick.

This contrived helplessness works. Especially in the church. Many people have reported trying to help a person in need only to find themselves stuck in the relationship as some kind of caregiver. You take a meal over and end up doing housecleaning. You do the housecleaning while listening to a recital of how few people really care. You stopped by for a few minutes and spent the afternoon. You can’t complain because you volunteered to help.

But then the calls begin. During lunch. After supper. Pulling you away from family and daily responsibilities. Spend time with me, the narcissist says. But she doesn’t actually say that. Instead, she calls with a crisis or asks for advice. You talk for an hour about her/his problems, and you struggle to find a way to get off the phone. Why don’t you come over tomorrow, the narcissist asks. Spend more time. Don’t worry about your family. Don’t complain about being tired. Don’t bring up your problems. The narcissist wants your time. He/she gets it by being needy.

And the work starts. The narcissist wishes she could get to church but is so afraid of driving. You volunteer to pick her up on your way. Of course, you will have to wait for her to be ready. It’s hard, you know. If her washer worked, she could have better choices of her clothes. So, you volunteer to do her wash. Oh, that would be great. She’ll have it ready on Tuesdays. That will give you time to get it back to her on Friday for Bingo. (Yeah, you notice that she somehow gets to Bingo.) But, pretty soon, you find your weekly schedule revolves partly around her laundry.

And the money begins to flow. She could do her own laundry if she just had enough for a new washer. It’s just a loan, you think. But her new washer is nicer than yours—and you just paid for it. She wants to begin driving herself to church, but the car has been acting up. Can’t trust it (except for Bingo). If she just had money for repairs. You know a good mechanic. Oh, that would be great. Again, it’s just a loan.

If you have lived through this, you will understand. Your time, your money, your energy—they are all going to the narcissist. You get so little in return, especially when you realize she was doing all of this without you before you took that meal. And you begin to understand that nothing has really changed. She doesn’t get ahead. She doesn’t become more able. If anything, she has become more needy as you have helped more.

Usually, there’s another aspect to what the needy narcissist wants from you. You are supposed to compliment him. But, unlike the regular narcissist who almost asks for the compliment, the needy narcissist gets you to do it without him asking. He tells you that he just isn’t good at anything. That’s why he can’t find a good job. So you sit down to list all the things he can do well. He is a good carpenter, you say. But no one’s hiring carpenters, he says. And he couldn’t do that kind of work anymore. That cabinet he made is quality work. But he no longer has good enough tools. Eventually, you understand that he doesn’t want work, he wants you to say nice things about him.

Eventually, these relationships become stressed. Big surprise. Some day you will say something. You will decide not to answer the phone, skip the laundry run, end the compliments. You will hint that you should get some of that loan money back. And—suddenly—the needy narcissist will become angry, even resentful. You might find that he stops calling and won’t answer your calls. She stops going to church and blames you when she talks with others. She thought you were her friend, but all you can do is criticize. Eventually, you realize you aren’t going to get your money back.

What do you do? Well, most of us write these things off as the price of a “good education.” We are more cautious next time. You could push the issue and try to get your money back, realizing that the needy narcissist will try to make you look bad. You might actually get your money because the narcissist will want you to go away. But she/he will lie and cry and gather support against you first. On the other hand, you might be surprised. People are often not quick to take the side of someone who will not repay a debt.

Now you might be thinking that this is the same as Munchhausen’s Syndrome. Actually, the narcissist’s needs don’t revolve around being sick—as in going to the doctor. Munchhausen’s is usually associated more with being a patient, under physical care from professionals. The narcissist might use sickness or disability, but you will notice that they rarely get any real help for those things. That’s because those complaints are useful and, if not phony, at least far less than portrayed.

On the other hand, both behaviors are almost certainly learned. Let’s call it “contrived helplessness.”

Being Loud

It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE LOUD TO BE HEARD!

I just wanted that statement to stand by itself. We are discouraged from writing in all caps these days. People say it’s obnoxious and intrusive. It seems demanding and, generally, uncool. People who write in all caps only demonstrate their inability to control themselves. At least that’s what THEY say!

So why is it that the people who seem quite willing to use triggers, insults, and strong words to get under our skin seem so offended when we react to their provocations? Could be a couple of reasons. First, they want to set us off so we will look bad to others. Second, they know the truth: being loud does get attention.

You know what I mean. Husband and wife go out to eat. The complaining and criticism start right away. Little jabs here and there and everywhere. Finally, BOOM! Someone is loudly reacting. Right there. In the restaurant. What did the other people think? Here’s another: the family gathers at mom’s for the holiday. Again, the criticisms and put-downs start. More and more and more until, BAM! Something hits the fan. Someone loses it. Now it’s a big mess and everyone knows whose fault it is. But, of course, they don’t really know, do they?

So, yes, narcissists will push your buttons until they get a reaction. They seem to get a great deal of pleasure from that reaction. They also succeed, usually, in making you look bad. In the mind of the narcissist, making you look bad makes him/her look better. Don’t ask why. It never makes any sense. And the narcissist will make a big deal of how bad you looked.

There is obviously a certain amount of control in this. The narcissist expects that you will be more subdued, more submissive, next time. The poking and prodding serve to humiliate and defeat you. On the job, the narcissist makes his/her comments and does little offensive things regularly. At home, same thing. The narcissist will invade your space, criticize your methods, make jokes about you, and do whatever it takes to get you to react. Why? Because each time you lose it, you pull back a little more.

You see, most of us were trained to be aware of what others think of us, but not in the same way the narcissist was trained. We were told to be quiet and non-obtrusive. If people noticed us, especially doing something inappropriate, we were taught to feel ashamed. “Be neither seen nor heard—unless doing something worth seeing and hearing.” We weren’t always told to be quiet. Sometimes we were told to perform. But our performance could only be appropriate when we were told it was appropriate.

Now, do you notice that the narcissist does not seem to have the same standards? The narcissist learned that being loud and obnoxious often worked to an advantage. People noticed. And people who get noticed get ahead. That’s what the narcissist thinks. Consider the television advertisements that everyone hates. Too loud. Too dumb. Too obnoxious. But they work. You remember that car dealership. The narcissist knows these things. He/she decides when to perform. The narcissist forces himself into the limelight.

And, secretly, all of us who were told to be quiet, who learned to repress our performance, admired the bravery and initiative of the narcissist—even if he was obnoxious.

But there can only be one performance at a time. The narcissist has to keep all the rest of us quiet. So, just in case, he/she teases, pokes, jabs to remind us that being quiet is still better than reacting. The narcissist knows that you will get the attention if you are loud, so he has to keep you quiet. To do that, he constantly reinforces your fears by working to get you to explode. You can be loud if you are out of control. That way you and everyone else will think you are doing something inappropriate.

So, the thing we must learn is how to be loud and appropriate. If being loud is not necessarily bad, then the problem is our lack of control. Anger, confusion, embarrassment, foolish words and actions—these reveal our lack of control. Retain control and loud will work for you.

Here’s what I mean. You are sitting next to the narcissist at a business meeting when he puts his finger in your coffee. (Not as far-fetched as you might think.) You normally have two choices. You can ignore it and throw your coffee away later. You can jump up, interrupt the meeting, and scream obscenities at the narcissist. You lose in both cases. How about some version of a third option? You slide your chair back and say, “Excuse me, I have to get another cup of coffee. Bob just stuck his finger in mine.” Then you calmly walk over to get a new cup of coffee. Now who looks like a fool? Not you.

I should warn you. The narcissist will fight back. He may lie. But maybe someone else saw him do it, or he has done it to them. Let him lie. You don’t have to say anything more. If the narcissist is your boss, you may have to be more careful. You still have options, however. Just keep your anger and disgust under control. Don’t be afraid to speak loudly enough so others hear. Even bosses are supposed to be under authority. Inappropriate touching, racist or bigoted jokes, deprecating humor—these should not be part of the workplace. Even if you can’t file a complaint, you might be able to speak loudly enough against the behavior for others to hear and understand. Speaking up might help you control the situation and, at least for the moment, the narcissist.

As always, count the cost. Don’t worry about what others will think. But if the narcissist is abusive, either as a spouse or a boss, then you have to be more careful. If you are in an abusive situation, where you are afraid, you have to find a way to get out. Please be careful.

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Some of you might appreciate being reminded of this post ( https://graceformyheart.wordpress.com/2013/12/27/the-anti-narcissist/ )” on this Good Friday.  I wrote it for Christmas, but it certainly explains the purpose and power of what we remember these days.

Narcissists Who “Care”

It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

A recent comment exposed the almost unbelievable fact that many narcissists work in caring professions. That means they are doctors, nurses, pastors, counselors, social workers, police, teachers, attorneys, etc. These are the people we turn to when we need help. These are the professions we have been taught to trust. When we discover that someone who is supposed to “care” for us instead wants to use us for his/her own purposes, we feel both confused and betrayed.

Of course, there is an element of control in most helping professions. People in need come for help. In doing so, they are already submissive. They want to turn their lives and troubles over to someone else. They look to the pastor to get them right with God. They look to the doctor for a way to health. They look to a counselor to find the way to sanity or peace. Submissive or weakened people easily become supply for the narcissist. Those who love to control others, who need to control others, would find helping professions to be fertile fields.

Under the category of control, we also have to remember that most helping professions are hierarchical. That means there are authorities and there are workers. Narcissists will move quickly into positions of leadership so they can use others to do aspects of the job they don’t like.

Although we might not hear of them often, there are opportunities for carers to be recognized as heroes. The doctor who provides the cure or the life-saving surgery becomes a hero to the sufferer and his/her family. Police officers can become heroes. Nurses, counselors, and pastors provide timely encouragement and support in situations of great need. Narcissists love to be heroes. Some will work hard for that recognition. Others, of course, will claim it even if it isn’t true.

There’s something else, something we rarely talk about. Some would suggest that it is almost necessary for care-givers to depersonalize those with whom they work. The one who cares must go home without the problems of their clients or patients. The doctor and the nurse cannot take the pain and suffering home. They must learn to separate the person from the problem. Setting a child’s broken arm means the doctor has to cause significant pain to the child. Empathy must be pushed aside for a while, and the problem must be addressed. Counselors, pastors, and others must sometimes say things that hurt, in order to deal truthfully with a problem. Caring about the person can get in the way of solving the problem.

And narcissists do this naturally. This is why narcissists are often so good at their jobs in caring professions. They are able to think without regard to the suffering of the person. They can prioritize services and time and money in ways that make others struggle. Emergency care workers may be required to do triage among several patients, to determine which should or should not receive treatment, without worrying about the identities and situations of the dying. Doctors and counselors must often decide when to stop trying to help. This aspect of caring jobs would be easy for narcissists.

For the most part, people in need won’t care whether their “caring” person is a narcissist. They just want help. The caring professions offer a sort of symbiotic relationship. The narcissist only wants to be seen as superior and successful, while the sufferer only wants successful relief. Today many people don’t expect the doctor’s “bedside manner” to be kind. They just want him to perform well.

But the narcissists are still narcissists at home or with co-workers. The miracle-working “Dr. House” is still a jerk to the people around him. The great preacher abuses his staff and ignores his family. The honored policeman is on his third marriage. The wise counselor’s kids are addicts and delinquents. The “caring” is a performance, a job expectation, a way to recognition and appreciation. It does not come from the heart.

Call It First

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It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

Whoever calls it first gets it, right? The baseball catch, the last piece of cake, the front passenger seat, the check at the restaurant, the parking place. We name it and claim it. Somehow, being first seems to grant control.

Politics is a great place to see this game. Blame the other party for something you are doing or want to do. As long as you call them on it first, you control the narrative. Then you can do whatever it is you wanted to do and all the complaining of the other only looks like sour grapes.

In these days when narcissism has become a popular word, it shouldn’t surprise us when the narcissist calls others “narcissists.” I have heard this more lately. Someone will write to me saying that an abuser has referred to the writer as a “narcissist.” Yet, when more information is gathered, it is plain that the abuser is the narcissist.

“You’re a narcissist!”

“No, you’re a narcissist!”

Which has the stronger position? See what I mean? The second response might be the right one, but it sounds childish.

This is called projection, a subject we have considered before, but it is aggressive projection, kind of a first-strike projection. This kind of preemptive combat is common for narcissists. Accuse the other person, let them fluster in their own defense, then do whatever you accused them of. When they complain, the narcissist can refer to the original accusation as fact and remind others. That way the others will assume that the victim is the one doing the projecting.

Confused? You are supposed to be. That’s how it works.

And this serves as a reminder that the narcissist’s ways are probably not your ways. Who thinks like this? Narcissists do. They are always thinking ahead, at least when it comes to their plans and manipulations. Because they have to be right (and seen as acceptable or superior) they have to find ways to cover their “sins.” Sometimes they do that by blaming you—even before they do the nasty deed.

I know of narcissists who accused their spouses of lying in front of the court, when the narcissists were the ones lying. The victims were shocked and effectively silenced, just so they wouldn’t look weak in response. I know of co-workers who accused other co-workers of some less-than-acceptable practice, and then set out to do the same thing themselves. If the deed was discovered, it would be the victim who would be investigated.

There is some power in this tactic, if for no other reason than it is so ruthless and unexpected in normal relationships. But that’s the point. The narcissistic relationship is not normal—and you need to be ready for anything. Projection is one of the more difficult narcissistic tactics to overcome, especially when others are involved.

How can you protect yourself? First, understand that the narcissist does not play fair. You will be abused in the process. Narcissistic relationships hurt. If the narcissist accuses you before he/she does something, you may not be able to do anything right. So maybe there is nothing for you to do, at first.

Second, don’t accept the blame for something you did not do. Most of us have been taught to accept guilt when it comes our way, whether we deserve it or not. If someone says that we are doing something wrong, our minds go quickly to any compromise in our lives, and we start to feel guilty. We stammer and try to explain and make ourselves look both guilty and weak. Instead, just say no. If it is not true, say it isn’t true. Whether people believe you or not, this will be the strongest position for you to take.

Third, call the narcissist on the tactic. Let him/her and others know that you understand what is happening and will not accept the game. The narcissist knows what he/she is doing, but the others probably do not. Identifying the tactic might help them to see the truth.

Fourth, point out behavior by example. Be specific. Don’t get into a name-calling exchange. Don’t even get angry. Just be prepared to point out where the narcissist did what he/she accused you of. (This is one good reason to keep a journal, just so you can remember the details, although I would not reveal the existence of the journal until the narcissist can’t get to it and destroy it.)

So the conversation might go like this:

“You’re a liar!”

“No. And I understand what you are doing. You call me a liar to deflect from your own lying. You didn’t work at the office that night. I know where you went.”

I suspect that the narcissist’s tactics will change at about this point in the conversation. You will be attacked in a different way, of course. That’s how this works. But you will probably not be called a liar again.

The Need to be Right

It’s Narcissist Friday!     

 

“Everybody thinks of themselves as right.” I heard that the other day. People who do bad things justify those things by thinking of themselves as right. On both sides of any issue you will find people who think they are right in their cause or opinion. In every war, where you have believed one side good and the other evil, both sides justify their actions by claiming to be right. In every argument, both people believe themselves to be right. Think about the church split you experienced, or the family argument, or that crazy blow-up you had with your friend. Everyone involved thought of themselves as right, didn’t they?

Sometimes there are two right ways of looking at a situation but, most of the time, it is more likely that both sides have done wrong. That’s why a real apology and real forgiveness can heal these differences. Normal people can empathize with their opponents and back off their need to be right. As they do that, they find a common ground that addresses both sides as right and wrong.

But narcissists and legalists must be right. They base their identity on being right. Both the narcissist and the legalist believe they are weakened if their argument is shown to be wrong. The narcissist believes his/her image is everything. That image includes being right, and losing an argument weakens the image. The legalist believes his/her spirituality is everything. That spirituality includes being right, and losing an argument weakens that spirituality. You see the similarities? They both must be right.

And here’s where things get ugly. Because of their need to be right, both narcissists and legalists depersonalize their opponents. Depersonalizing, the unwillingness to see others as people like yourself, allows hurtful actions against an opponent without guilt. Just like you have no remorse at sending poison back to the ant colony through your ant traps, the narcissist has no remorse destroying a co-worker or even a former lover who challenges his/her space. Nor does the legalist have any problem calling those who disagree all kinds of names or criticizing their decisions and values. Once you no longer see someone as a person, you apparently become free to abuse that person. You can use, manipulate, marginalize, even slander an opponent. It doesn’t matter any more than cutting down a tree that’s in your way.

Thankfully, most people are not that dedicated to their own image or spirituality. It is not as important for most of us to look right. In fact, it is quite possible to be right and to look wrong. We can walk away from an argument and allow the other person to think of themselves as right, if they need that. And we can also entertain the idea that we might be wrong. We can listen to someone who disagrees with us and seek a way to come together. While compromise is a bad word for narcissists and an evil word for legalists, it is a normal relationship skill for most of us.

To do this, you must be capable of two things. First, you must be able to be wrong. You can’t be so committed to being right that you base your identity on it. Second, you must be able to see the other person as a person. If you can acknowledge that the other person has a right to their opinion and a right to peaceful existence independent of you, then you can find a way to live in reasonable harmony with those who disagree.

Recently we have encountered another group that seems to be as challenging as narcissists and legalists when it comes to arguments. I call them “ideologues.” It means they are so dedicated/addicted/committed to an idea that they refuse to hear any other idea. We haven’t seen this much in our culture until recent years. While we have always had narcissists and legalists, the ideologues are often tied to the kind of politics we see today. In the past democrats and republicans, for example, could live and work together—even though they disagreed on candidates or policies. Today, we see some people so dedicated to their party or idea or cause that they do not hesitate to offend or judge anyone they think might disagree. They appear to have developed a blindness toward other perspectives and find it easy to depersonalize others. And when others are depersonalized, they can be mistreated without guilt. So ideologues destroy property, reputations, businesses, and relationships without regard to the pain they cause. And they seem to take every word of disagreement as a personal insult.

If you run across an ideologue, you will wonder if the person is a narcissist. If that ideologue is connected to church or Christian topics, you will probably think of him/her as a legalist. While it is certainly possible for the person to be either (or both), the ideologue may not be building his or her own image, nor see you as spiritually compromised. The person might be generous and gracious, but still absolutely rigid and passionate when talking about the cause or idea. Even though these folks can seem to be nice, they can transform when their special topic comes up. Most of the time, if it is possible, it is best to keep the person off their topic. Talk about other things, and you will find a different person.

Being right is different from needing to be right. Those who are at peace within themselves can find ways to be at peace with others, even when those others disagree. Handling these people who need to be right is usually just a process of dropping or avoiding the topic. You don’t have to lie and say you agree, even if they pester you. You won’t win the argument, no matter how well you present your case, so find a way to move on. But be prepared for them to bring it up from time to time just so they can remind you that they won the argument.