Narcissism in children is often not diagnosed due to the belief that symptoms only occur in adolescence and adulthood. However, signs include tantrums when criticized, lack of accountability, and resistance to attitude adjustment. Narcissistic behavior can manifest as an inflated sense of grandeur, envy, and entitlement, leading to antisocial behavior and a pathological need for attention.
Psychiatrists rarely diagnose narcissism in children due in large part to the fact that most symptoms are believed to occur during adolescence and adulthood. Children typically have fantasies of unlimited power and ability – a key feature of narcissism outlined by the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM-IV) – but they also have developing personalities. There is a possibility that children will eventually come out of their narcissistic behavior. Studies have found, however, that narcissism could conceivably manifest as a disorder regardless of age. Possible signs of narcissism in children include tantrums when criticized, lack of accountability for the consequences of an action, and resistance to attitude adjustment.
Some of the identified symptoms of narcissism in the DSM-IV are related to having an abnormally inflated sense of grandeur, both in the patient’s perceived importance and in their abilities. In children, this can manifest as seeing other children below them. The narcissistic child believes he is superior to his peers and will not hesitate to express this. He will exclude other children from his playgroup on the basis of lower material wealth, poorer social status, and inability to perform the same tasks with an adequate level of skill. This also creates an inability to deal adequately with criticism; the child believes he is infallible and will react violently when told otherwise.
On the other hand, narcissism in children tends to amplify feelings of envy. Since the child’s perceived importance is above average, he will take it as an affront to her worth if he sees that others are better than him at some skill or have better things. This is often associated with antisocial behavior, and therefore the narcissistic child often argues with children he sees as better than himself to establish his own superiority. In some children, this can manifest as a tendency to steal other people’s toys.
Narcissism in children can also inflate a child’s sense of entitlement to unrealistic levels. A child with narcissism may resent being told what to do; she chooses not to acknowledge another person’s authority simply because she thinks the other person is not as important as he is. In exchange for his perceived superiority, the narcissistic child will expect to be admired by the people around him, creating a pathological need to be the center of attention. These unrealistic expectations can lead to withdrawal from individuals who don’t reinforce them, a key trait of narcissism in general.
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