Exploitativeness

Exploitativeness is a psychological state in which individuals take unfair advantage of others for personal gain, often through manipulation/lying, coercion/gaslighting, or deception—violating norms of reciprocity (mutual give-and-take in relationships). Narcissists are primarily concerned with their own desires and see others as existing to serve them—they’re also better at recognizing others’ negative emotional states, facilitating their ability to use their vulnerabilities, resources, or abilities selfishly, without considering their rights or wellbeing. This behavior can stem from lacking empathy, need for control, and is linked to negative outcomes like aggression and irresponsibility. It often occurs in situations with a power imbalance, with the narcissist holds authority, status, or financial power over another. Although exploitative behavior has traditionally been viewed as a core narcissistic trait (American Psychiatric Association, 2013), research has indicated a stronger association exists between exploitativeness and grandiose narcissism than with vulnerable narcissism.