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Personality Disorders
The Narcissist’s Playbook: How They Turn Grudges into Grand Plans for Revenge
Why narcissists play the long game of revenge, and how you can see it coming in time to get out of the way
There’s something chilling about a narcissist’s ability to hold onto a grudge. Most people feel wronged, get upset, and eventually move on. Not the narcissist. For them, revenge isn’t a mere emotional reaction — it’s an art form, a grand strategy, a game of psychological chess where every move is deliberate, every pawn carefully positioned.
If you’ve ever crossed a narcissist, you know the eerie sensation of being watched, manipulated, or subtly undermined, sometimes months or even years after the original offense. Their need for vengeance isn’t about fairness or justice — it’s about control. It’s about ensuring that no one, ever, gets away with making them feel weak. And the way they go about it? It’s nothing short of a military campaign.
Phase One: The Wound and the War Declaration
The moment a narcissist perceives an injury — whether real or imagined — the wheels of retribution begin turning. Unlike the average person, who might feel hurt and seek closure, a narcissist…
