The Narcissist’s Lifelong Villain Arc

A villain arc is used to describe a period of time after tragedy strikes a person’s life, leading to them becoming selfish and self-centred to cope with their trauma.

The simplest example of a villain arc is after a breakup, where a person isolates themselves and undergoes extreme self-improvement. Think break-up beards and style changes, gym memberships and solo travel.

A villain arc is intended to process pain by setting harsh boundaries. It is a space to work on oneself to restore self-esteem, to ‘hate the world’ so that one’s rage at being betrayed can be released without doing others harm.

When Villain Arcs Go Underground

In most cases, a person transitions out of their villain arc in due time. They gradually warm again to the influence of others, become more social and agreeable, and look to try the world again.

But what if the trauma ha...