Can children develop Narcissism? My son has NPD

going live on Sunday 27th (in a few hours) here What look like narcissistic traits, beyond healthy narcissism into something malignant will naturally show up in children. These can not reflect a "personality disorder" per se. No serious clinician will diagnose anyone under the age of 18 with a PD.

There are "behaviours" (not traits) that we do need to address, help to express and guide in children without causing them to repress-to-please.

Aggression, yes even to the point of cruel sadism, will be seen in healthy children. The explanation of the need for empathy (other beings feel pain just like you) needs to be explained and explored and demonstrated in multiple modalities:

1. verbal explanation - important but the weakest

2. demonstration - like a good script writer the ninja parent uses the "show dont tell" strategy, show by your deeds rather than relying on words. Stronger but not the strongest.

3. modelling - your children will model your unconscious beliefs and patterns at their unconscious level, they are powerless to resist this drive, no matter how rebellious they may seem. Be a role model for empathy and for healthy expressions of aggression (NEVER repression) and they will follow you quite naturally.

They will follow what you do, not what you say.

They will obey what you say, sometimes.

They will FOLLOW what you DO (and what you be, moment to moment) ALWAYS - this is a nuanced point. Consider it for the next 10 years.

No. Make it 25.

You, ninja parent, are their model for BEING in the world.

Do you want submissive slaves or do you want full, sovereign humans?

Have an intent for your children, make it a strong one. Act accordingly.