Number 5: Moving the goalposts.
Moving the goal posts is a tactic that involves criticism. Basically, it means that the person criticizing will keep finding issues about the victim to complain about and nothing is good enough for them. You have to keep meeting new expectations although you’ve jumped through hoops for this person already. It usually, but not always, occurs in relationships during arguments. Victims can state why their abuser is wrong and lay out factual information about why, but the abuser can find many different ways to not accept the facts and continue to find something to argue about.
As said before, it’s not always in arguments, many times, the abuser will move the goalposts about the victim’s life as well. They’ll pick on careers, hobbies, or anything the victim enjoys or is involved in. Signs to look for are your significant other always telling you you need to be better at whatever it is you’re doing and finding many things to argue about when you’ve stood your ground and fought back.
Number 6: Regression.
Regression refers to the act of regressing back to childlike behavior as an adult. Many narcissists will whine and cry like a toddler would get their way. It can either guilt the victim because they associate their feelings with children or they’re annoyed with the behavior and will do anything to get it to stop.
It was proposed by Freud in earlier times as a defense mechanism to avoid talking and dealing with issues as an adult. Narcissists will do it to avoid facing and dealing with troubles they’ve caused if the victim decides to call on their behavior and confront them.
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