Beneath the disarming façade and alluring charm, the narcissist is calculating his next winning moves. Whether personal or professional, he is always focused on improving his image, power, reach and material generosity. Friendships are used to place you on a higher social and professional level of power and influence. Narcissists are determined and ruthless in achieving their goals. They act without mercy, compassion or empathy. It’s not unusual for them to purposely marry someone who provides social access to the accessories these venues provide. Marriage is an arrangement, a business. Narcissists tend to marry many times, have many boyfriends/girlfriends, and seek out other intimate relationships and flings on the sidelines.

Narcissists are often treacherous in their personal and business dealings. “Betrayal is a profound betrayal of trust that causes serious harm to another human being.” Betrayal is brutal betrayal. Without conscience or guilt, the narcissist is free to treat people like puppets in the drama of his life.

In business, the narcissist is brutal and predatory. Many narcissists are very litigious. They have small armies of lawyers available to sue those they perceive as obstacles to their goals, be they rational, moral, ethical, or legal. If they are high-level narcissists who have enjoyed worldly success, they can intimidate even those who have legitimate legal complaints against them. With their monetary weight, they use smart attorneys who find the loophole that will allow them to win their case. If the injured party does not back down, the narcissist will counter-sue his adversary. The aggrieved person is without recourse. He cannot take the financial risk of a long court battle and an unknown verdict.

In their personal lives, narcissists psychologically and monetarily abuse their families, leaving their wives/husbands, lovers, boyfriends, girlfriends, and children to fend for themselves. They often hide their assets from ex-wives and ex-husbands and their children by cleverly placing them in offshore investments. Narcissists are unconcerned about the serious psychological and monetary consequences of their treacherous behaviors. They have moved on to create another life that will fulfill their grand dreams.

Many people find it hard to believe that some human beings can be so calculating, so treacherous. The narcissist learned from childhood that human consequences do not matter, that the feelings of others are immaterial, that everyone is expendable. Developing an awareness and understanding of the dynamics of narcissistic personality disorder is a wise decision.