Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Too much praise can turn kids into narcissistic jerks, study finds
ABC7 Chicago ^ | 03/09/2015

Posted on 03/09/2015 3:47:59 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

Convincing your child that they really are special amongst their peers may risk turning them into a narcissist, with feelings of superiority and self-satisfaction, according to a new study.

Narcissistic individuals think they're better than everyone else, live for personal success and expect exceptional treatment, explained the study's authors in the latest issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal. When narcissists experience failure, they're not pleasant to be around, and can lash out violently.

Evaluating 565 Dutch children, ages 7 to 12, for narcissistic tendencies, the investigators questioned the children's parents on how, when and how often they praised their child.

The children whose parents consistently told them they were superior to other children, no matter what, scored higher on measurements for narcissism compared to the kids who were given a more realistic view of themselves, the investigators found.

Shutterstock

That's because over-praising children can lead them to believe they are special people who deserve special treatment all the time, explained Brad Bushman, one of the study's authors, and a a professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University.

"Parents should be warm and loving, but not give their child blanket praise," said Bushman. "We should not boost self-esteem and hope our children will behave well. Instead, we should praise our children after they do well."

Dr. Gene Beresin, the executive director of Massachusetts General Hospital's Clay Center for Young Healthy Minds, said he doubts some of the study's conclusions.

"In the first place, parents are just one influence on a child," said Beresin. "Teachers, peers, siblings and many others influence how a child feels about themselves and how they behave towards others."

Beresin also argued that American children are not necessarily the same as Dutch children, and the age of the children used in the study were inadequate test subjects.

"I don't see how you can label kids this young as narcissistic when it's generally recognized that such personality traits aren't fully formed until late adolescence, like around age 18," said Beresin.

Parents who build a bond of trust with their children by giving them honest feedback mixed with encouragement and support help build a child's self-esteem and security, argues Beresin. Positive feedback, as long as it's accurate and appropriate, can only help boost a child's self-worth.

The study's investigators said their work builds on a larger body of research that shows parental "overvaluation" can lead children to develop narcissism later in life because children tend to see themselves just as the important people in their lives see them.

The researchers didn't rule out the effects of other influences, like genetics, but said previous work shows that cultivating an unreasonably confident view of self is at the core of narcissism.


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: narcissism; psychology; selfesteem
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last
Another tragic case of high self-esteem for no apparent reason.
1 posted on 03/09/2015 3:47:59 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Does this apply to presidents too?


2 posted on 03/09/2015 3:51:37 PM PDT by Raycpa
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I could have told you that. I grew up with those kids.

Endlessly praised for no reason, fed with false encouragement to the point of delusions of grandeur. So many people who are so arrogant about little achievement.

These smug kids were set up for failure, all probably intentionally so they come crying to the state for serfdom.


3 posted on 03/09/2015 3:52:44 PM PDT by Shadow44
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

The problem in our world is not “too much self esteem.” That is never a problem. People especially little ones, need as much love and encouragement as they can get.


4 posted on 03/09/2015 3:53:52 PM PDT by PapaNew (The grace of God & freedom always win the debate in the forum of ideas over unjust law & government)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
This may explain the bamster and the entire rat party.

The MSM never says anything bad about any of them.

5 posted on 03/09/2015 3:54:00 PM PDT by Lakeshark
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I remember in the 1980’s there was much concern about the self esteem of children. Now I meet a lot of adults in their thirties and early forties who have too much self esteem. They are full of themselves.


6 posted on 03/09/2015 3:54:11 PM PDT by forgotten man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Another “No sh1t, Sherlock” moment from America’s “best and brightest”.


7 posted on 03/09/2015 3:54:23 PM PDT by WayneS (Barack Obama makes Neville Chamberlin look like George Patton.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

From my observation every little tyke(most) will be a narcissist jerks.
Moms in stores asking “please” to a little undeveloped jerk......
please be quite please settle down please this please that..Give me a break


8 posted on 03/09/2015 3:55:30 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
and it only took raising two generations brimming with false esteem, no talent, brains, ambition or accomplishments to figure it out...

go figure

9 posted on 03/09/2015 3:58:07 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: forgotten man

OK yes. whadabout some of the names these overindulged brats now sport....


10 posted on 03/09/2015 3:58:32 PM PDT by CGASMIA68
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

That’s one of the reasons I kept my kids out of the Gifted & Talented program when they were still in middle school.

At age 12-13 every kid is gifted & talented at something and IMHO telling them they’re special at that age gives them an unrealistic sense of their abilities.

It’s like a little league pitcher who physically matures a little faster than his peers.
He may be hot stuff at 12-13 but if he starts thinking that he’s gifted then he can be in for a real shock at 18-19 when the rest of his age group have caught up with him physically.

I don’t think you do a kid any favors by telling them that they’re any more gifted or any more special than anybody else.


11 posted on 03/09/2015 3:59:56 PM PDT by snarkybob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Uh, duh.


12 posted on 03/09/2015 4:00:24 PM PDT by Politicalkiddo ("In politics the middle way is none at all."- John Adams)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum
"Narcissistic individuals think they're better than everyone else, live for personal success and expect exceptional treatment . . . "

Sounds like the definition of a liberal.
13 posted on 03/09/2015 4:01:05 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Another more common, and greater tragedy is convincing elite children they’re mediocre or inferior.


14 posted on 03/09/2015 4:01:56 PM PDT by Born to Conserve
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Chode

I for one am laughing my Ass off! I just sent this to my one and only child, he 20.
I always said to him when he was little and in High School..
“We do NOT believe in self esteem in this house…we believe in results.”

He still jokes about it it but he is a pretty good kid…had his moments though


15 posted on 03/09/2015 4:02:33 PM PDT by acapesket
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: snarkybob
"It’s like a little league pitcher who physically matures a little faster than his peers."

That happens a lot. Precocious physical maturity is mistaken for exceptional talent, and people are fooled.
16 posted on 03/09/2015 4:03:45 PM PDT by Steve_Seattle
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Steve_Seattle

Well, it certainly seems to have worked for Obama.
I can’t say I can recall a more stuffed up little prick.


17 posted on 03/09/2015 4:03:51 PM PDT by tet68 ( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

Where’s captain obvious?
People have kindergarten “graduation” now days. Big deal. You don’t crap your pants any more.


18 posted on 03/09/2015 4:05:45 PM PDT by TurboZamboni (Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.-JFK)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: PapaNew

>>The problem in our world is not “too much self esteem.” That is never a problem. People especially little ones, need as much love and encouragement as they can get.<<

Thy also need to fail and understand thier role in the scheme of things.


19 posted on 03/09/2015 4:05:50 PM PDT by freedumb2003 (islam: The hands of the Chinese, the mouths of the arabs, the minds of the French.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: E. Pluribus Unum

I see this every day when I take my kids to school, soccer, or other sporting events.


20 posted on 03/09/2015 4:08:58 PM PDT by manc (Marriage =1 man + 1 woman,when they say marriage equality then they should support polygamy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-51 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson