Control

Narcissists need to control their victims. They do this in order to make the victim dependent on them in some way, so that they can keep them in place as reliable sources of narcissistic supply.

Some narcissists are also driven by a need to be perfect - another type of control. These narcissists, as well as demanding perfectionism from others, demand it of themselves too, in various areas of their lives. These narcissists are prepared to work incredibly hard to be perfect.

This need to control plays out in the narcissist having to have the last word on everything. And it’s important from a tactical perspective to understand that if they cannot have everything their way, they have to have at least some of it their way.