Why Narcissists Lie and Keep Secrets: Shame and the False Self- part 1 | Epi 128

In this episode, we explore why secrecy in narcissism isn’t primarily about manipulation or control, but about survival. We look at how shame, fear of exposure, and the need to protect a fragile false self drive lying and concealment — and why the very strategies meant to prevent rejection end up sabotaging intimacy and connection.

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Dr. Anthony Mazzella is a psychoanalyst and psychodynamic psychotherapist specializing in narcissism, personality disorders, and relational dynamics.