Background

Male Victims Don’t Cry: Real Men=No Pain!

Uploaded 5/12/2024, approx. 2 minute read

Don't think that there are fewer male victims. I don't think there are fewer men who are victims. After all, about half of all narcissists are women and all narcissists are abusers. It stands to reason that the number of male victims and female victims, the numbers are the same. It's just that men are victimized differently. There is a disparity in physical power, for example, so men are unlikely to be physically or less likely to be physically abused. But men are as much victims of narcissistic abuse and other types of abuse as women. And women today are equally as likely to be narcissists and closing the gap when it comes to psychopathy. Actually, shortly I think half of all psychopaths would be women as well. But men feel less comfortable to admit to having been victimized and traumatized. Because to be victimized and traumatized is perceived as a weakness, a kind of deplorable and ridiculous vulnerability. It's a feat, it's effeminate to have been victimized and traumatized. It means something's wrong with you as a man. It defies and negates masculinity, especially toxic masculinity. But also classical traditional masculinity. Men don't cry and men don't lie down, don't take it lying down and men don't just give in and men fight back and men are never victims. And a real man is never traumatized. He faces the exigencies and vicissitudes and difficulties of life head-on and copes with them as a man. Be a man, you know, man up and so on and so forth.

So it's perceived as a weakness and a vulnerability and it's something women do, you know. Women do trauma, women do victimhood, men don't.

And if you've been victimized as a man, something must be wrong with you. I don't know, maybe you're just stupid, maybe you're gullible, maybe even you had it coming, maybe you deserved it. It's inconceivable that a man would be victimized and traumatized unless something is wrong with that person, with that man functionally, mentally, physically, psychologically, circumstantially. His past, his under qualifications, his lack of education, his laziness.

So this is known as attribution error. Attribution error when you say someone's behavior and someone's personal history, autobiography and someone's traumas and someone's episodes of victimhood, they're all reflective, they all emanate from someone's essence.

In the case of a woman, she's a victim, she has nothing to do with the abuse. The abuse is imposed on her, at least this is the stereotype. Women are not guilty, they're not to blame for having been abused, but men are.

When a woman is abused, something is wrong with her abuser, when a man is abused, something is wrong with him. And so this is an asymmetry which makes it very difficult for men to come forward. And confess to having been abused and to share instances of trauma and pain and to admit to emotions which are out of control and unmanageable and so on and so forth.

Men do this, you know, with a very good friend or with a therapist, but most of them will be loath and reluctant to come out in public the way women do, on four rooms and so forth and to say I've been sufficiently weak, I've been sufficiently unguarded, I've been sufficiently vulnerable, I've been sufficiently effeminate, feminine to have been victimized and traumatized. I got the big, the men business thing, I got it wrong. I don't know how to be a man. What a man would admit to this, except me of course.

If you enjoyed this article, you might like the following:

Signs You are Victim of Narcissistic Abuse, Not Common Abuse (Stress, Depression Management Webinar)

Narcissistic abuse is a subtype of abusive behavior that is pervasive, sophisticated, and can be practiced either covertly or overtly. Victims of narcissistic abuse often experience depression, anxiety, disorientation, and dissociative symptoms. This type of abuse can lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD) and even elements of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The way individuals process and react to trauma can lead to either regression into infantile behaviors or personal growth and maturation, depending on their emotional regulation and maturity.


Social Distancing: Isolation with the Narcissist

Social isolation with a narcissist can create a dynamic similar to a hostage situation, leading to trauma bonding where the victim attempts to appease the abuser to avoid conflict. The narcissist, feeling a loss of control due to external circumstances like a pandemic, displaces this need for control onto their partner, resulting in increased paranoia and aggression. As the victim is cut off from support networks, they must adopt a "background noise" strategy, responding minimally to the narcissist's demands while avoiding any actions that could provoke further aggression. However, this strategy has limitations, and prolonged isolation may lead to escalating domestic violence and further psychological harm to both the victim and any children involved.


Coping Styles: Narcissist Abuses "Loved" Ones Despite Abandonment Anxiety

Narcissists abuse their loved ones to decrease their abandonment anxiety, restore their sense of grandiosity, and test their partner's loyalty. Abuse also serves as a form of behavior modification, as it signals to the partner that they need to modify their behavior to avoid abuse. Coping styles for dealing with abuse include submissiveness, conflicting, mirroring, collusion, and displacement, but some of these styles can be harmful and should be avoided.


N-Magnet: Narcissist's Ideal Victim?

Narcissists are not drawn to empathic, sensitive people, but rather repelled by them. Victims of narcissistic abuse come in all shapes, sizes, professions, genders, and ages, and there is no specific profile. People should not think of themselves as a "narcissist magnet" and instead review their life in detail to see that they have control over their destiny and can learn from their experiences. Bed relationships, no matter how harrowing, are opportunities to learn lessons.


Victims Become Narcissists: Contagious Narcissism

Victims of narcissistic abuse can become narcissistic themselves, adopting the role of a professional victim. These individuals become self-centered, abusive, and exploitative, and their existence and identity rest solely on their victimhood. This is known as narcissistic contagion or narcissism by proxy, and it is a danger that should be avoided by every victim and survivor of abuse. Once the victim starts to abuse, they never stop, and their abuse becomes indiscriminate and affects everyone around them.


Narcissist's Reactions to Abandonment, Separation, and Divorce

Narcissistic abusers often resort to self-delusion when faced with the dissolution of a meaningful relationship. They may adopt a masochistic avoidance solution, punishing themselves for their failure, or construct a delusional narrative in which they are the hero. Some may become antisocial psychopaths, while others develop persecutory delusions and withdraw completely from social contact, becoming schizoids. Finally, some abusers resort to an aggressive stance, becoming verbally, psychologically, and sometimes physically abusive towards loved ones.


Big Bang of Narcissism (Game Changers Interview 1 of 3)

Narcissistic abuse is a unique form of abuse that targets all dimensions of a victim's existence simultaneously, aiming to eliminate their autonomy and recreate them as controllable extensions of the abuser. The rise of narcissism in society is linked to population growth and a consumer culture that objectifies individuals, making it difficult for people to feel unique or valued. Political leaders often reflect the narcissistic tendencies of the electorate, as the prevalence of pathological narcissism has increased significantly, particularly among younger generations. Social media has the potential to raise awareness about narcissism and empower victims by providing them with connections and references, which can help combat the isolation that facilitates such abuse.


Abuse Victims Fear Holidays, Birthdays

Holidays can be a nightmare for victims of family violence and abuse, especially when the offender has narcissistic or antisocial psychopathic personality disorders. Holidays provoke a particularly virulent strain of pathological envy in abusers with these disorders. The narcissistic and psychopathic abuser feels deprived and wants to spoil the party for everyone else. It is important to set boundaries and punish misbehavior and maltreatment.


Victim: How to Avoid Becoming a Psychopathic Narcissist

Victims of narcissistic abuse can sometimes adopt the behaviors of their abusers, becoming self-centered and lacking empathy, which can lead to a cycle of narcissism by proxy. This phenomenon is exacerbated by societal dynamics, where marginalized groups may leverage their victimhood for economic and political gain, mirroring the oppressive behaviors they have experienced. The psychological impact of prolonged exposure to narcissistic individuals can lead to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), where victims exhibit traits associated with narcissism and psychopathy as a means of coping with their trauma. Ultimately, the interplay between victimhood and narcissism highlights the complexities of human behavior in response to abuse, suggesting that the effects of trauma can be both profound and transformative.


Can You Love the Narcissist and Rescue Him?

Victims of narcissists often resort to fantasies and self-delusions to cope with their pain, believing that they can rescue the narcissist from their misery and misfortune. However, loving a narcissist is difficult, and any attempt to relate to them emotionally is doomed to failure. Narcissists are addicts in pursuit of gratification through the drug known as narcissistic supply, and they hone in on potential suppliers like cruise missiles. Victims of narcissists can become bitter and self-centered, lacking in empathy, and become more like the narcissist over time.

Transcripts Copyright © Sam Vaknin 2010-2024, under license to William DeGraaf
Website Copyright © William DeGraaf 2022-2024
Get it on Google Play
Privacy policy