This the 3rd of 9 Symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder.1
Many experts believe early childhood experiences help shape narcissistic traits. Parenting tactics can certainly play a part.
Most parents believe their children are unique and special. However, in the case of someone with narcissistic personality, maybe one of the parents regularly insisted they were perfect, excused mistakes, and denied shortcomings.
This might lead to someone growing up convinced of their own specialness.
Instances in which this need to be special and unique might manifest include:
- only choosing services others consider “the best” (e.g., fly first class, stay in five-star hotels, and eat at top restaurants)
- purchasing only name-brand items
- insisting on seeing prestigious specialists, even for minor health concerns
- seeking out friendships with distinguished or famous people
- dating only people that others find attractive, intelligent, or powerful
When people fail to recognize them, someone with narcissistic personality may decide their opinion simply doesn’t matter. This can be justified by stating these people don’t understand how unique and special they are.
- https://psychcentral.com/disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder/symptoms [↩]