How to spot a narcissist

Narcissism manifests in different ways in different people, but one universal narcissistic trait is gaslighting. Gaslighting is a type of manipulation where you get power over a person by doubting and invalidating their reality.

“When you deny some’s reality, it cause people to doubt themselves,” Dr. Ramani told the table. “When it happens repeatedly to you, you feel like you’re literally going crazy. You no longer believe yourself.”

When Willow asked if denying their words or actions in an argument was also a form of gaslighting, Dr. Ramani confirmed “when you feel like you need proof or a base for your feelings, you’re being gaslighted.”

She also suggests that it’s easiest to be gaslit by someone who has power over you or who you trust, meaning that a relationship with a narcissist can be difficult, demeaning and, in extreme cases, dangerous.

Red Table Talk: Jada Pinkett-Smith discusses how to spot a narcissist (and what to do about it)