Covert narcissists may be even more common than the grandiose type. These are narcs who like to do their bidding behind closed doors, making sure to lie, cheat and steal away from the public eye. Covert narcissists may not be as pleasing on the outside as the somatic type, but that doesn’t cramp their style. They still enjoy “winning” at all costs and make sure to use underhanded tactics to keep up the façade. They tend to be gifted public speakers, nevertheless, with higher than average intelligence and high-paying careers. This type of narcissist also tends to be primarily focused on the accumulation of wealth and prized possessions – including “trophy” partners. Everything in the narc’s life, in fact, is considered a possession he feels entitled to have and he uses these possessions to maintain a sense of superiority. He will use a wide range of power and control tactics to ensure he maintains his possessions, including sabotaging the competition if need be. Because they are highly intelligent, coverts also tend to be especially adept at technology and able to use this to their advantage.
Coverts might be considered more dangerous than overts because they more readily come across as normal, average individuals, incapable of having a hidden agenda. The covert narcissist is inherently manipulative and is used to getting his way, which makes it much easier for this person to prove you are in the wrong than it is for you to prove otherwise. They love to project their faults onto their victims, and anything and everything they cannot stand about themselves (which is a lot, actually) must be projected onto others. In this way, coverts release the internal shame associated with their less-than-admirable qualities and manipulate victims into believing they, instead, are imperfect or in the wrong. It takes the emphasis off of the covert’s flaws and places this weight on something external.
Since coverts are exceptionally good at mind-numbing gaslighting attempts, they do so with ease. One of the ways in which this is done is through the art of changing the subject just at a pivotal time in which the narcissist may have otherwise been made to be held accountable for his actions. Narcissists are ever-so-skilled at doing so. If confronted publicly, he or she is very likely to use this tactic in order to avoid humiliation. Of course, whoever pointed out a potential flaw can expect the full wrath of narcissist injury whenever the two are once again behind closed doors.
Coverts are those who could have used their intelligence for good and probably have gotten equally far in life. However, the only way they came to understand how to live without their shame is to hurt others. To live an upstanding life is simply not as fulfilling to a covert than doing so. They get the most supply from their deceitful ways.