Why does the partner of someone with narcissistic traits sometimes start acting like them?

Many adult children and former partners of narcissistic family systems describe the same confusing experience: over time, the other parent—or partner—begins to sound, think, and behave more like the narcissistic person. They defend the same stories, minimize the same harm, and sometimes become emotionally unsafe themselves.

Why does this happen?

In this episode of the Roots & Attachment Podcast, Erika explores several psychological theories that may help explain this phenomenon, including:

* Narcissistic traits vs. Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD)

* Family Systems Theory

* Shared Reality Theory

* Confirmation Bias

* Cognitive Dissonance

* Betrayal Trauma

* Why entire families can organize around one distorted version of reality

This isn’t about blaming the “other” parent. It’s about understanding the powerful psychological and relational forces that can shape perception over years or even decades.

Whether you grew up with narcissistic parents, are healing from a toxic relationship, or simply want a deeper understanding of attachment and family dynamics, this episode offers research-based insights to help make sense of experiences that often leave people questioning their own reality.

Resources

🌿 Learn more about therapy, workshops, courses, and resources:

https://www.DenverAttachmentCounseling.com

📖 Get Erika’s workbook, Making Therapy Work

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