This Is Your Brain With Dr. Phil Stieg How to Deal with a Narcissist
Feb 20, 2026
Dr. Keith Campbell, psychology professor and leading narcissism researcher, explains what narcissism really is. He contrasts grandiose and vulnerable forms. He covers how narcissism shows up in leadership, relationships, manipulation tactics, parenting, and culture. The conversation weaves myth, science, and practical ways these traits shape lives.
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Narcissism vs. Healthy Self-Esteem
- Narcissism and self-esteem overlap but differ: narcissists emphasize agency (power, attractiveness) not communal worth.
- High self-esteem balances agentic and communal value, unlike the narrow self-view of narcissists.
What Gaslighting Does
- Gaslighting is systematic manipulation that severs a person's trust in their own reality.
- It resembles tactics used by cult leaders to make the manipulator the source of truth.
The Love-Bombing Pattern
- Love bombing is intense early affection used by narcissists to secure commitment before true intimacy forms.
- Relationships with narcissists often start bright and then rotate into instability, manipulation, and infidelity.
