roots of narcissm?

where does narcissm begin in childhood?

I don't really know , people aren't giving a diagnosis until they reach adulthood , there probably isn't something called the N child.

But it is agreed that all PDs form to protect the child (in a screwed up way) from an emotional trauma or something akin to that.

The question is that could someone become a narcissist without any apparent trauma or emotional abuse?

There must be studies about this , I'll send you a couple if I can find them.

Sorry to go sideways with this, but what always interests me, is, do narcissists believe that if they had not had 'problematic' childhoods, they would have had a full range of emotions?

Although, obviously, they are different conditions, sociopathy and schizoidism seem to have strong genetic components, and people with these PDs lack emotions.

I know that some narcissists, including me, don't believe that their upbringing was particularly 'problematic'. Maybe some elements of my upbringing disordered my mind in a narcissistic way, I don't know, but I don't think that I would have been fully emotional, whatever my upbringing.

Honestly , I have no idea , funky.

That would be like thinking how would my life be if I was born in 1873 in London as a guy. I have no idea.

I'd like to start by saying that - the roots of narcissism and the manifestation can differ from one narcissistic individual to another.

Back in VII'th and VIII'th grade one of my teachers used to call me narcissistic for displaying such traits - but i didn't give much thought about it till latter - when a friend said the same but with a serious tone - being bothered by it... so, i started reading all kinds of articles related to narcissism and "indeed" - my behavior fits the symptoms... and that changed me - but not in better, cause i felt "more lost" after realizing this (i started loosing my identity - this being just one of the causes in that direction... ).

...based on my personal study about narcissism - this causes are pretty accurate (even tho - the cause is not entirely clear so they're added as "possible factors") - a confirmation that comes both from my personal experience and the experience of others (i'm sure others can confirm this as well):

Causes

The cause of this disorder is unknown, according to Groopman and Cooper. However, they list the following factors identified by various researchers as possibilities:

- An oversensitive temperament at birth
- Excessive admiration that is never balanced with realistic feedback
- Excessive praise for good behaviors or excessive criticism for bad behaviors in childhood
- Overindulgence and overvaluation by parents
- Being praised for perceived exceptional looks or abilities by adults
- Severe emotional abuse in childhood
- Unpredictable or unreliable care giving from parents
- Valued by parents as a means to regulate their own self-esteem

...above causes are quoted in most articles related to narcissism, but it's also available on main article from wikipedia.

- apparently for some individuals it starts at birth wile for others it can develop from opposite causes - being appreciated or being neglected.

funky wrote:Sorry to go sideways with this, but what always interests me, is, do narcissists believe that if they had not had 'problematic' childhoods, they would have had a full range of emotions?

Although, obviously, they are different conditions, sociopathy and schizoidism seem to have strong genetic components, and people with these PDs lack emotions.

I know that some narcissists, including me, don't believe that their upbringing was particularly 'problematic'. Maybe some elements of my upbringing disordered my mind in a narcissistic way, I don't know, but I don't think that I would have been fully emotional, whatever my upbringing.

I also do not think my upbringing was particularly problematic. I can look back and pick out specific things that my father did, though, or ways that he has acted that promoted narcissism in me, but before this year i never saw my childhood as much different than anyone elses.

It bothers me when my friends talk about their parents getting angry at them, because listening to their story i can tell their parents love them. There is a difference between blaming and shaming, and during childhood it can be very subtle and hard to recognize. Looking back, though, my dad would shun me for doing things he didn't expect his angel son to do (even if he does the same $#%^), and he would give me the silent treatment instead of telling me why i shouldn't have done what i did.

funky wrote:Sorry to go sideways with this, but what always interests me, is, do narcissists believe that if they had not had 'problematic' childhoods, they would have had a full range of emotions?

Although, obviously, they are different conditions, sociopathy and schizoidism seem to have strong genetic components, and people with these PDs lack emotions.

I know that some narcissists, including me, don't believe that their upbringing was particularly 'problematic'. Maybe some elements of my upbringing disordered my mind in a narcissistic way, I don't know, but I don't think that I would have been fully emotional, whatever my upbringing.

I thought sociopaths/ASPDs have base emotion. Also aren't schiziods the same as the girl in The girl with the dragon tattoo.