Parenting narcissus: what are the links between parenting and narcissism?

J Pers. 2006 Apr;74(2):345-76. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.2005.00378.x.

Abstract

Previous theorizing by clinical psychologists suggests that adolescent narcissism may be related to parenting practices (Kernberg, 1975; Kohut, 1977). Two studies investigated the relations between parenting dimensions (i.e., warmth, monitoring, and psychological control) and narcissism both with and without removing from narcissism variance associated with trait self-esteem. Two hundred and twenty-two college students (Study 1) and 212 high school students (Study 2) completed the Narcissistic Personality Inventory, a trait self-esteem scale, and standard measures of the three parenting dimensions. Parental warmth was associated positively and monitoring was associated negatively with both types of narcissism. Psychological control was positively associated with narcissism scores from which trait self-esteem variance had been removed. Clinical implications of the findings are discussed, limitations are addressed, and future research directions are suggested.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adolescent Behavior* / psychology
  • Adult
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Internal-External Control
  • Male
  • Narcissism*
  • Parent-Child Relations*
  • Parenting* / psychology
  • Personality Development
  • Personality Disorders / psychology
  • Personality Inventory
  • Self Concept*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires