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Flying monkeys (psychology)


Flying monkeys is a phrase used in popular psychology mainly in the context of narcissistic abuse. They are people who act on behalf of a narcissist to a third party, usually for an abusive purpose. The phrase has also been used to refer to people who act on behalf of a psychopath for a similar purpose.

Abuse by proxy (or proxy abuse) is a closely related concept.

Flying monkeys are distinct from enablers. Enablers just allow or cover for the narcissist's (abuser's) own bad behavior.

The phrase, originally winged monkeys, is derived from L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. The wicked witch sent them to carry out her attacks.

Flying monkeys can be anyone who believes the narcissist's fake persona including the narcissist's spouse, child, friend, sister, brother or cousin.

According to Atkinson, flying monkeys are usually unwittingly manipulated people although they may be another narcissist working in tandem.

According to Vaknin, proxy abusers can be:

The flying monkey does the narcissist’s bidding to inflict additional torment to the target. It may consist of spying, spreading gossip, threatening, painting the narcissist as the victim (victim playing) and the target as the perpetrator (victim blaming). Despite this, the narcissist does not hesitate to make flying monkeys their scapegoats when and if needed.

The flying monkeys may make it seem like the narcissist is not really involved. They are likely to have no idea that they are being used.

Multiple flying monkeys are likely to act as a mobbing force against a victim.


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