The Makings of a Narcissist

Narcissists are wounded individuals who experienced having a rejecting, neglecting, smothering, controlling, or dismissive parent. In an attempt to feel adequate after feeling worthless from negative treatment, the child will work tirelessly to be good enough in their parents eyes. Narcissists are often formed by parents who idealize their children will set up an expectation that is is unrealistic and thus crushes the child’s confidence. These experiences shape the child’s and then eventual adults ideas of love which becomes conditional and always out of reach. The child will then feel that accomplishments and approval from others is the way to gain love. The child will become competitive, perfectionistic, and narcissistic as they look to fill their inner void and worthlessness with feelings of being good enough. They will exploit others as a way of masking the feelings of worthlessness and building the fragile and broken self from childhood.