Narcissistic projection is tied up with gaslighting and baiting. The experience is the cognitive version of a Gordian Knot - frustrating, infuriating, and time-consuming.
This past week, politicians and others displayed narcissistic projection in the House of Representatives when they not only attempted to prevent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. from testifying about political censorship but also used their bully pulpit to gaslight instead of addressing the science and data Bobby represented that were counter to their preferred Covid narrative. 1, 2
Not that the American people had anything approaching a fair reporting of this event in mainstream media. Some loyal Democrats in Congress wanted Bobby’s testimony to be embargoed in “executive session” so that his testimony would never be heard by the people. They failed in their attempt to censor the testimony on censorship, but the mainstream media used pejorative language in their minimal reporting of the event, which sadly proves the point that the media is working hand in glove with the power structure to brainwash the American people with sanctioned mythology instead of reporting on the data and science.
Rational people find it impossible to understand such a deception, but therein lies the rub. Narcissists can confabulate narratives that sound rational, but only if you don’t look closely. When challenged, narcissists resort to lies and dysregulated emotional outbursts that intimidate others into compliance with their warped world view. Narcissists don’t care about truth or justice. They are happily willing to project their bad characteristics on anyone who threatens to unmask them.
According to the Summarizer on the Internet:
Narcissistic projection is a defense tactic used by narcissists to shift the blame of their actions onto others, often unconsciously to protect their low self-esteem. Narcissists tend to deny flaws in themselves and blame others for their own shortcomings, mistakes, and misfortunes. Their behavior often serves to deflect criticism and shift the blame or focus away from the narcissist, which helps them avoid feelings of guilt or shame. Narcissists often use specific manipulation strategies to bait their victims into submission, turning qualities such as compassion and empathy against them.
Most, but not all, narcissists lack self-awareness. Many believe the lies they tell themselves and others. To maintain this self-deception, they refuse to listen to anything that does not fit their world view. You can call it confirmation bias if you want, or agnotology - but when the data and science validating that hundreds of thousands of Americans have died of vax injuries and well over a million have been disabled because of vax injuries from the Covid vaccine, this isn’t a “believe what you want to believe” situation, this is murder. 3, 4
We’ve seen an entire range of narcissistic behaviors since March 2020 - and yet, politicians and others in positions of power are still so blinded by hubris that they refuse to open their eyes and ears to the facts for one simple reason - they are only concerned about their own power, prestige and paychecks. That selfish preoccupation is the bedrock of narcissistic behaviors.
Alexander the Great solved the problem of undoing the Gordian Knot with original thinking. I’m putting my faith in Bobby Kennedy to “untie” the Gordian Knot like Alexander the Great did - with a swift strike of a sharp sword.
Maggie Russo is the author of “Dance with the Devil: Love in the Age of Covid”
‘Once You Start Censoring, You’re on Your Way to Dystopia and Totalitarianism,’ RFK Jr. Tells House Committee. Michael Nevradakis, Ph.D. July 20, 2023
GOP bolsters Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in hearing, while Democrats assail him. Washington Post. July 20, 2023.
"Cause Unknown": The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022. Ed Dowd (2022)
Black Swan Event: They Can’t Run from this Data. Spotify. July 14, 2023
JOKE:
Q: How are roosters and narcissists alike?
A: Roosters turn off their hearing when they crow in order to protect their hearing, and narcissists turn off their hearing when they crow in order to protect their distorted view of themselves.
You could also say the Dems were just throwing a tantrum. The question is -- when will they break down into tears and give themselves some real relief?