Personality Disorders: How Do Children Become Narcissistic?

Narcissism, medically called as narcissistic personality disorder, is deeply rooted in childhood and is more common among men. In the United States alone, up to six percent of its people are narcissistic, which explains the enormous ego among some segments of its population.

Children and even teenagers are prone to selfishness as they strive to meet their individual needs. Young children do not yet understand the needs of other people so they tend to become self-centered. This selfishness mellows down as they grow older and develop a deep understanding of human relations.

Kids need to develop their self-esteem in order to become functional members of society, according to Psychology Today. Most of the kids outgrow their selfishness as they become more confident of themselves and the love and support of their family. Other kids, however, grow up with too much superiority and grandiose images of themselves, they become arrogant and egoistic.

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders defines narcissistic personality disorder as one of the ten disorders affecting personality, according to Mind Disorders. These disorders are deep-seated and enduring behavioral patterns that lead to conflicting social relationships. Experts said narcissistic people exhibit grandiose patterns of themselves and are in constant need of praise and admiration from other people.

Children who grow up with caring and supportive parents and family generally grow up with emotional stability, as per Huffington Post. Those who grow up with selfish parents who use their kids to gain attention and approval tend to lose their self-worth. In the end, these children become so insecure they develop strategies as a way to defend themselves and survive.

On the other hand, there are also children who grow up egoistic because of over-indulging parents. Narcissistic people are addicted to constant adoration from other people. A person with this disorder needs to have everyone's attention all the time in order to validate his self-worth.