Many people believe narcissists aren’t born that way. Psychologists aren’t sure of the exact cause but think children become this way due to their environment. We have a more in-depth look into what causes children to become narcissists.
What Is Narcissistic Personality Disorder?
Let’s look at the clinical definition of Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). This is a diagnosed mental health condition, not just a term to toss around lightly.
Mental health professionals look for signs like the following: arrogance, chronic attention-seeking, manipulation, entitlement, fascination for wealth and power, and hate for criticism.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder is hard to diagnose in children or teenagers. At younger ages, humans are constantly growing and changing. The personality traits of a narcissist usually worsen with age.
So just because a person feels the need always to be right or is selfish, those actions do not necessarily mean they have a mental illness.
The Study Of Narcissism In Children
There was a study in Psychological and Cognitive Sciences done by the University of Amsterdam on narcissism in children. This study helped determine children’s self-esteem levels due to parental involvement. The researchers concluded that parental overvaluation predicted narcissism more than the lack of parental warmth.
Psychologists’ View of What Triggers Children to Become Narcissists
Psychologists do agree parental behavior is a contribution to the development a narcissistic child. This doesn’t mean all narcissists are created by their parents. We’ll also examine some people are just born with that personality. Some psychologists believe children are likelier to show these traits when parents praise them. Others think they show these traits because they don’t shower them with love and affection. We’ll dive into both of these views.
1 – Narcissists Have a Need For Approval
There are a few things that can cause children to become narcissistic. It’s normal for children to want their parent’s approval and attention. Sometimes when a child cannot get that attention because the family is very competitive and only values high achievement, the child gets left behind. Sometimes the child only feels loved when they win. If they don’t get recognition for second place, they feel disappointed.
If a child grows up in a narcissistic family, they only see these values. They set up a lifelong pattern of chasing happiness. Other times the child feels defeated as they’re told over and over again that they aren’t good enough. They decide to love themselves and make the world like them since their parents don’t show them enough love.
Sometimes they go as far as to do outlandish things because they crave attention. When they don’t get approval, they push the bar further and further until someone has to “see” them and approve them. It becomes a vicious cycle.
2 – Striving To Be Perfect
When children believe they are only loved and praised when they “win,” they feel insecure. They think they’re only valued when they are unique. The child begins to try to be “perfect” to be seen. They strive for perfection to prove they don’t have flaws. The parent continues to put them down when they don’t get all A’s or score goals in a game.
If the child isn’t good enough in their eyes, they are set in a hypothetical corner of the room. The problem with this is the child loses touch with themselves. They don’t even know who they are at the root. They spend their time trying to perfect every activity instead of concentrating on their development. A child should be able to be imperfect at times.
They cannot always score the winning goal. If a parent doesn’t tell them it’s okay to miss a goal, they’ll always feel defeated.
3 – Parents Who Make Kids the Center Of The Universe
Many parents make their children the center of their universe. This doesn’t mean the child will suddenly become a narcissist. Toddlers go through a stage that many call “The Terrible Twos.” If a toddler is neglected through this stage, they sometimes leave the stage without completing it. This scenario may sound like a dream to a parent, but it’s a negative thing.
They will mature into adults with this same perception of the world. During this stage, they should realize other people are in their world. They understand they need other people, but they want to be independent. This is just a normal stage. Young children need boundaries.
They grow up without expectations if they aren’t allowed to fail and know their limits. They learn these limits by throwing tantrums, screaming, manipulating, and making up emotions. But they might become narcissists if they don’t learn any of these things. They expect the world does revolve around them, and they should get what they want.
The scary part is that this toddler becomes an adult having a tantrum. They think they deserve attention.
4 – Parents Heap on Too Much Praise
Many parents overly praise their children. It’s the world of participation trophies we live in. You can work with your child to ensure they don’t go down this path.
As a parent, you have to help them realize they will fail. It’s okay to fail. Teach them empathy and kindness to others. Show them with your actions. Set boundaries for them daily. There are a million different “rules” on parenting in the world. Some say you praise too much. Some say you don’t praise enough.
The most important thing is to work with your child so they understand you love them, but you must also set boundaries for them.
5 – Child Narcissists Are Often a Parental Mirror Image
Many times narcissists as children learn from their parents. When the parents treat the child as if they are perfect, the child starts to believe it. Praise is lovely to a child, but praising their every move can harm their development. When the parent shows narcissistic tendencies, the child might start to act the same way.
They see the parent showing off, living like the rules don’t matter, and disrespecting people. Children often mirror what they see in their parents. They start to do these same things without realizing it.
6 – Nature Vs. Nurture
Some children are born with a tendency to fell less emotional empathy than others. By nature, they are not as empathetic as other people. They don’t feel much emotion. This doesn’t mean they are a narcissist. It just means they don’t have this emotion as much as others.
Nurture is a learned habit. If narcissists have a mental illness of this sort, they usually are taught relationships aren’t as meaningful. They see people as objects at times because it is learned. They were born with the ability to love, yet don’t feel it because they aren’t shown enough love. This does not mean no child nurtured with love will become a narcissist.
Noticing Narcissistic Traits In Children
It’s important to watch out for ways the child shows narcissistic tendencies.
- When they start to act entitled, it’s time to step in and show them who’s boss.
- They also may become aggressive.
- When they don’t get their way, watch out. Often, the worst parts of a narcissist will show when threatened. Their ego is their protection.
- Once you push it, they sometimes crumble under stress.
- They do not like it when their self-esteem is damaged. W
- hen they feel failure, they often lash out.
The Tough Truth About Narcissists
It can be tough to see these traits in children. Narcissists don’t seem contrary to the exterior. They act how you think they should. A person might seem to have all of the right intentions but always has an angle.
They often deflect blame onto anyone around them. Furthermore, they charm you with their angelic actions, only to show their true selves later. Children and teenagers often show all sorts of these traits because of their age. They might not have a mental health issue but are just everyday kids. It’s important to watch them closely to see if their personality changes positively.
Help For A Children Who Are Narcissists
The problem with narcissistic people is that there is rarely a cure for their behavior. If it’s changed and worked within childhood, they can hopefully let the other positive parts of their personality shine. They have to want to change. Adults must work with children with these tendencies to protect their future social relationships. Many claim it’s almost impossible for them to have intimate relationships because they see affection as a means to an end.
Final Thoughts on Why Children Grow Up to Become Narcissists
Overall, a narcissistic child can change if they get intervention at a young age. Changing an adult’s perspective is much more complicated. Children grow and learn by those that guide them through life. It’s great to praise their strange artwork, but only if you do it to an extent. There’s a balance between neglecting your children and overpraising them.
Narcissists create an unfavorable environment for anyone in their path. Therefore, working with children is essential to ensure their positive and healthy futures.
