Can A Narcissist Turn Into An Empath?
Narcissism arises early in childhood due to a mother who is too distracted to see the child and mirror back their True Self. As a result, narcissism lies at the core of a person.
An empath, also known as a highly-sensitive person, is someone who develops a dependent style of attachment. The empath pays close attention to their loved ones and tries to anticipate their reactions. The empath abandons their own needs, and lives vicariously through others. The tiniest reaction, both negative and positive, impacts the empath immensely. Disapproval crushes the empath, approval fills them with hope and euphoria.
This dependent style of attachment develops throughout a person’s life, and exists on the surface of their personality. It is an adaptive behaviour used to create a sense of security and ward off abandonment through neediness and anticipating the emotions of others.
In some cases, an empath has a covert, narcissistic core. That is, their narcissism lay dormant beneath their dependence, and rarely came out. An empath with a covert narcissistic core craves adulation, and is prone to the idealise-devalue-discard cycle. However, their neediness and attachment to others kept them in relationships in a subservient position.
Over time, the empath with a covert, narcissistic core may grow frustrated and angry by the people in their life who use and manipulate them.
