Photo: Andre Mouton

What is a flying monkey in psychology?

FLYING MONKEY is a popular psychology term that refers to an enabler of a highly narcissistic person or someone with narcissistic personality disorder (NPD). A flying monkey is an agent who acts on their behalf.

narcissisticabuserehab.com - Types of Flying Monkeys: The 2 Main Kinds of Narcissistic Enablers

What are the 3 spiritual gifts?

Others categorize them into "gifts of knowledge" (word of wisdom, word of knowledge, distinguishing between spirits), "gifts of speech" (tongues,...

Last updated Aug 12, 2022

When did Instagram hit 1 billion users?

June 2018 Instagram was a hit, rapidly gathering users to become one of the world's biggest and most-influential social media platforms. By June...

Last updated Oct 25, 2018

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What are the main types of flying monkeys?

There are usually two main types of flying monkeys in a narcissistic person’s orbit. These are:

The benevolent enabler, and The malevolent enabler

The benevolent enabler

A benevolent flying monkey is someone with a sociotropic nature that makes them an easy target for manipulators. Sociotrophic individuals suffer from the so-called “disease to please,” which means that they tend to put the needs of others ahead of theirs. Often they unwittingly aid and abet a narcissistic person’s campaign of emotional abuse because predatory manipulators are quick to sniff out a sociotropic person’s powerful longing for external validation. Benevolent flying monkeys are not consciously trying to cause harm. A benevolent flying monkey is likely to have been subjected to the narcissistic person’s love-bombing and gaslighting tactics. They are usually acting in good faith based on the narcissist’s persuasive vilification of the person they’ve targeted for abuse. The narcissistic person will have used the DARVO tactic to manipulate their perception of events and the people involved so much so that the benevolent flying monkey wrongly views the victim-survivor as the perpetrator of the abuse. Once the narcissistic person has effectively pulled the wool over this person’s eyes, they triangulate them into the conflict and with strong incentives to protect and “rescue” the narcissist.

The malevolent enabler

A malevolent flying monkey is misanthropic in nature. They are bad faith actors who knowingly participate in narcissistic abuse because inflicting harm on others gives them a sense of power. Malevolent flying monkeys tend to identify with highly narcissistic people and NPDs because they are equally narcissistic in their own right. They usually share the same attitudes and beliefs and feel a sense of belonging in the narcissistic person or NPDs in-group. Because a malevolent flying monkey is morally bankrupt, it doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. In fact, they are usually fully aware that an injustice is taking place. However, these types relish an opportunity to deny dignity and justice to someone who they feel is “not like them.” Malevolent flying monkeys function as gatekeepers. Often they are foot soldiers of a larger system of oppression, i.e. sexism, racism, etc. and they engage in the conflict for the sole purpose of protecting a hierarchy that serves them.

How do narcissists recruit flying monkeys?

Narcissists successfully seduce flying monkeys into their ranks by appealing to their narcissism. Narcissism is an expression of self-idealization. It’s a trait that all human beings have to a greater or lesser extent. Benevolent flying monkeys are generally prone to vulnerable or covert narcissism, while malevolent flying monkey’s narcissism is more like to show up as grandiose or overt narcissism.

Confidential support is available 24/7/365 to anyone experiencing abuse.

In the USA call 1-800-799-7233 or log on to thehotline.org.

In the UK call 0808 2000 247 or log on to nationaldahelpline.org.uk.

NAR’s Journalistic Standards and Practices

About NAR • Report Typo or Error

What is the most powerful energy color?

Your brain interprets the various energies of visible light as different colors, ranging from red to violet. Red has the lowest energy and violet...

Last updated Jan 15, 2019

What are the 7 ways to invest?

Here's a summary of 7 smart investment options you can look into: Public Provident Fund (PPF) Fixed Deposits (FDs) Mutual Funds. Direct Equity....

Last updated Sep 21, 2019

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What percentage of relationships work after a break?

One study found that only 10 percent of couples living together reunite after separating, and only 33 percent of those who do reunite will stay together. Interestingly, women who are more educated are less likely to get back together with a partner they've separated from.

glamour.com - Can Taking a Break Actually Work? - Glamour

©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection

As anyone who's seen Friends knows, taking a break from your relationship can be messy. You're uncertain about your future, the issue of fidelity becomes blurry, and your relationship is in this murky state between together and broken up. But could it be worth it? Rachel and Ross do end up together at the end, after all. According to Holly Parker, Ph.D., a psychotherapist and a Harvard lecturer on the psychology of close relationships, there has actually been some research on the subject. The takeaway? "The lion’s share of couples who separate never get back together, and a number of those who do reunite won’t go the distance," she says. One study found that only 10 percent of couples living together reunite after separating, and only 33 percent of those who do reunite will stay together. Interestingly, women who are more educated are less likely to get back together with a partner they've separated from. Research has also found that couples tend to have less stable and satisfying relationships after separating and getting back together. "Even among those few who take a break and get back together for keeps, it’s not always the case that they deeply want to be together and are using the break to repair their bond," Parker said. "Some couples get back together not out of love but because they’re facing crucial barriers to permanently leaving." "Taking a break" can be a way to break ties slowly, she explains. It allows you to avoid breaking up when you know that's what's best but are too attached to move on and don't want to deal with the heartache.

What are the signs of kundalini awakening?

Signs and symptoms of an awakening Experiencing a heightened awareness of intuition. A deep sense of purpose and destiny. The urge to make life...

Last updated Jun 4, 2018

How can I cleanse my liver fast?

Reducing or eliminating all animal protein, alcohol, sugar, wheat, corn, soy, tobacco, processed foods, caffeine, and nuts will give your liver a...

Last updated Jun 7, 2020

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

Which planet can make you rich?

Jupiter is considered a karaka of wealth, grandeur, property and fortunes in astrology. Jupiter is also a karaka of the 2nd, 11th, and 9th houses...

Last updated Dec 26, 2021

Awaken your dormant DNA ability to attract wealth effortlessly

The simple yet scientifically proven Wealth DNA method laid out in the report allows you to effortlessly start attracting the wealth and abundance you deserve.

Learn More »

Promotion

What is lowest possible IQ?

zero However, the lowest IQ score possible is zero. Can someone actually get this low of a score? In theory, yes. But no one in recorded history...

Last updated Jul 16, 2018