The narcissist has the singular ability to present two completely different characters to different segments of people they interact with and get away with this “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hydean” pattern of behavior.
When in his Dr. Jekyll mode, he is charming, seemingly thoughtful, and downright charismatic. This mode is presented to the general public and the people you court, whether the courtship is personal and even sexual or purely business or even political. A “good” narcissist could often be successful as a professional actor, and is in fact performing effectively on the “stage of life.”
Mr. Hyde mode arises when the narcissist finds himself in what he perceives to be a safe harbor where he can get away with outrageous and abusive behavior. Safe havens include the privacy of his home and his own business environment where he has real or perceived power to control other people without fear of exposure.
Another form of the two faces of narcissism is in the financial realm. Narcissistic businessmen often get away with “tarnishing” many creditors while actually raising money from others. This is accomplished through the ingenious structuring of separate legal entities that can range from local limited liability companies to offshore companies. At any given time, there is an exotic offshore “charter of the day” favourite, either in the Cayman Islands or, more recently, the Isle of Man.
Whether in personal or professional life, it is important for victims of these two-faced narcissists to recognize these patterns of behavior in order to better protect themselves.