A narcissistic abuse tactic I call “Leapfrogging” is a form of predatory behavior where a narcissist targets someone they envy—often someone who possesses traits, status, or social capital the narcissist lacks or is threatened or envious of. The malignant narcissist makes a conscious decision to destroy or discredit the target before initiating the friendship or connection. The entire relationship is a setup—an infiltration. They study their target, mimic their behavior, and mirror their values, all while planning their psychological ambush. The goal is to get close enough to: - Gain access to personal information, reputation, and influence. - Undermine trust by spreading subtle lies or planting doubts in others. - Erode the target’s confidence thru increased criticism - Hijack the target’s identity or credibility. Once the narcissist feels they’ve “absorbed” enough value from the target—or sees an opportunity to strike—they flip the narrative. The target becomes the problem: unstable, abusive, selfish, irresponsible, untrustworthy, etc. The narcissist positions themselves as the “true victim” or “better version,” effectively leapfrogging over the target’s social standing. At its core, this is predatory envy in action—not just wanting what someone else has, but wanting to ruin them for having it.
