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title: How to Deal With a Narcissist, Backed by Research
description: Emphasize community in your conversation
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author: Eric Barker
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article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:49:30.141Z
article:section: Ideas
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![](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt64395548fcb30bc6/698861dacd1bba74fd6fcfbb/narcissist-woman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9)


# How to Deal With a Narcissist, Backed by Research

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<!-- video src="https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/uzXSRUbM.m3u8" -->
## Video: Know Right Now: How to be Mentally Strong

[Watch (HLS stream): Know Right Now: How to be Mentally Strong](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/uzXSRUbM.m3u8) (1:01)

![Know Right Now: How to be Mentally Strong](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/uzXSRUbM/poster.jpg?width=720)

_Published 2015-08-25. It’s estimated that you say 300-1,000 to yourself in a minute: keep those words positive_


by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Sep 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC

![narcissist-woman](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt64395548fcb30bc6/698861dacd1bba74fd6fcfbb/narcissist-woman.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

Al otro lado del espejo

Al otro lado del espejo Getty Images

by 

[Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/)


## Eric Barker


Sep 3, 2015 4:01 AM UTC

There are ways to make a narcissist easier to deal with.

Emphasize community when you talk to them. When they feel there’s a strong group behind something, they’re more likely to behave:

---

> “”

---

(To learn how to get people to like you — from an FBI behavior expert — click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/).)

When they do something wrong, use disappointment as a weapon to keep them in line. It works better than anger:

---

> “”

---


(To learn how to make difficult conversations easy, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/12/difficult-conversations/).)

Maybe you think you don’t deal with too many narcissists. There’s research that shows the leader of a group is more likely to be on the narcissistic end of the spectrum:

---

> “”

---


(To learn how to win every argument, click [here](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/09/how-to-win-every-argument/).)

**_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2010/03/how-to-deal-with-a-narcissist/)**_._**

**Join over 205,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.**

Related posts:

[How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/)

[How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/)

[New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/)

_Read next:_ [_10 Steps to a Happier Life, Backed By Research_](http://time.com/3980705/happier-life-research/?iid=time%5Freadnext)

[_Download TIME’s mobile app for iOS to have your world explained wherever you go_](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-mobile/id328218429)


## Transcript

[00:00] [ MUSIC ]

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