Parents Who Commit These Three Mistakes Tend to Raise Narcissistic Kids

Cody Isabel is a Neuroscientist, parenting coach, and the co-founder of Rewrite and Rise, a coaching service that uses both neuroscience and behavioral science to help adults and children improve their general well-being and surpass mental health issues.

He found out that the most substantial predictors of narcissistic tendencies are usually superiority and lack of empathy in adulthood and can be found in a child's family dynamic. Cody claims that children are naturally selfish but not narcissistic as their minds are still developing. Thus, it's only normal for them to be not entirely aware until they became well-informed of salient skills needed such as emotional regulation and empathy.

According to Isabel, parents who do not acknowledge their own negative behaviors are the ones who are more likely to raise narcissistic children as kids only learn by only doing observing and reflecting. This only means that children might get the action a parent has shown them.

For example, your child will watch how you handle and react to different situations. Cody emphasizes the importance of parents educating their kids on Emotional Intelligence or EQ specifically the empathy component. Recognizing what a child feels is a great way to help kids acknowledge what they feel as well.

Understanding what your child feels and validating them

If a parent neglected what their child feels, they will think that what they felt was wrong as they were shamed by it. A study entitled Remembered Childhood Invalidation as a Predictor of Narcissism, Personality Functioning, and Wellbeing shows that kids who do not feel that their emotions matter usually lead to a common narcissistic trait which is grandiosity.

A Study called A Retrospective Study: Investigating the Role of Childhood Experience and P Experience and Parenting Style in the De enting Style in the Development of Narcissism has determined that the root of the narcissist's inner self are shame, insecurity, and fear.

Furthermore, parents must let their children feel that their emotions are both valid and reasonable. For example, if a child slammed the door with an angry face, do not shame them for what they did but rather question how their day went as such will reflect their actions showed by slamming the door. Parents must let their children understand that their actions were not good but also validate what they feel at the same time.

Observing what your child does and their behavior

The parenting coach says that it's important for parents to call out improper and negative behaviors of their children. If a child is having a loud tantrum in a public, parents must not shame their children just to get out of the situation, but rather as these questions Cody has provided:

1. What happened?
2. How are you feeling?
3. How do you think your reaction is making the other person (or the people around you) feel?

Parents who do this tactic not only help the children to accept their emotional dysfunction but also help them with characteristics that are crucial in establishing EQ, per CNBC Make It.