What is a fauxpology?
The fauxpology is a type of apology where the person doing the apologizing does not actually feel sorry for what they have done. It is sometimes used by people who do not want to apologize but are forced to do so by circumstances or to save face. Their words might initially appear to be an apology, but once you peel away the layers all you find are excuses or manipulation.
Narcissists are masters at the art of deflection, and they wield fauxpologies like a weapon. Their apologies are usually designed to blame others, or to make you feel guilty for having had the audacity to get offended or to call out their bad behaviour.
Examples of fauxpology
“I am sorry you think that I am such a bad wife.”
“I’m sorry that you are so insecure that you think that when I talk to other women I am flirting.”
“I am sorry that I am so much better at this than you are.”
“I am sorry that you think that my words were meant to be insulting.”
Sometimes the evidence of a fauxpology does not lie in the words said, but by how they are said. The tone can be sarcastic or so flowery as to make it clear that it is meant to humiliate the recipient. Alternatively the body language can advertise the apologiser’s true intentions.
I once saw my boss make a fauxpology that I feel was even more insulting than the original behaviour. He stuck his hands together like he was praying, and then bowed like he was praying in church. It was clearly an act designed to show his total contempt for the person he was supposedly apologizing to.
How to deal with an insincere apology
It’s normal to feel hurt when someone apologizes to you but doesn’t seem sincere. However, if you are dealing with a narcissist then you have to accept that their lack of empathy and total self-absorption means that it is impossible for them to feel real regret. Instead of wasting your energy feeling upset about their behaviour, work on insulating yourself from them, so they will never be able to hurt you again.
For Further Reading:
The following are the most potent abusive tactics in the narcissist’s toolbox –
- Abuse by Proxy – How to Identify and Deal with this form of Psychological Abuse
- How to Detect and Escape Ambient Abuse: A Survivor’s Guide
- Divide and Conquer – a strategic way of isolating victims
- The Fauxpology – a devious weapon of the Narcissist
- Future Faking – Narcissists make hollow promises about the future
- Narcissistic Grooming – How Narcissists Brainwash and Condition their Victims
- Love Bombing – The Narcissist’s Trick to Keep You Hooked
- What is Narcissist Discard and what are the signs?
- Narcissist Hoovering – How to Deal With It
- Narcissist Triangulation – What it is, why Narcissists do it, and how to deal with it
- What you need to know about Narcissistic Rage
- Narcissistic Smear Campaign – how to spot it and what to do about it
- Narcissistic Word Salad – one of the tools in the narcissist’s toolbox
- 7 Types of Narcissistic Abuse with Practical Examples
- Narcissistic Abuse – How Narcissists Manipulate and Hurt their Victims
- 13 Warning Signs of Narcissistic Abuse: How to Deal with It and Get Help
- Narcissistic Abuse Examples – How to Recognize the Toxic Signs of Narcissism
- The Narcissistic Abuse Cycle: How to Recognize It and Break Free
- Narcissist Manipulation Tactics: How to Safeguard Yourself from Emotional Abuse
- Jokes or Abuse? When Jokes Cross the Line
- Narcissistic Abuse – The Signs and Why it’s so Damaging
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