Disenchanted Childhood: The Effects Of Self Centered Parenting on Children

When you are on the opposite side of self centered parenting, it can have far-reaching effects on you and your psyche. Growing up with selfish parents can take a heavy toll on your mental and emotional health, and these effects can be felt even when you are an adult.

KEY POINTS

  • Self absorbed parents create role-reversed relationships with their children in which the child psychologically caters to the parent.
  • Children show psychological responses to selfish parents depending upon the childโ€™s personality.
  • Some children acquiesce to self-focused parentsโ€™ demands, while other children are in open conflict with them.

Many children suffer grave emotional problems from living with a self absorbed parent. The child is disregarded and used as an extension of the parent. Often, this means the childโ€™s physical wants and needs, points of view, and emotional needs go unmet.

Related: Children Of Narcissistic Parents: The Challenge of โ€˜Reparentingโ€™ Yourself

The Role-Reversal Relationship

Everything revolves around the self absorbed parent. The relationship is one-sided and directed by the parent. Such a parent enlists the child in caring for and catering to him or her. This creates a role-reversal relationship that is inappropriate for the childโ€™s growth, development, and welfare.

Self absorbed parents have many characteristics in the ways they relate with their children These relationship traits are well summarized by both Nina W. Brown, EdD, LPC, in Children of the Self-Absorbed and by Lindsay C. Gibson, PsyD. in Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents.

Such parents manipulate the child to ensure the spotlight of admiration stays on the parent. They lack empathy for the childโ€™s emotional needs. They may show jealousy with any steps the child takes toward individuationโ€“โ€“being his or her own person.

Self centered parenting

The Effects of Self Centered Parenting on Children

Childrenโ€™s Emotional Responses

Children are affected by growing up with a self-focused parent. When a child is not related to as an individual, a separate person from a parent, there are many emotional and psychological consequences for the child.

When a childโ€™s individuality is disregarded, it affects self-esteem and confidence. Low self-esteem in turn can create anxieties and depressions, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and runaway behaviours.

There are a wide variety of consequences children suffer in growing up with a selfish parent. Are there discernible patterns to their suffering? Homer B. Martin. M.D., and I found that there are.

Children respond to self-centered parents differently based on the childโ€™s personality style. This style is created by how a child is emotionally conditioned within the family. We discovered personality styles form into two typesโ€“โ€“omnipotent and impotent.

Effects on Omnipotent Children

Omnipotent children try hard to satisfy selfish parents. The omnipotent label comes from the childโ€™s unconscious belief that he or she is psychologically strong and able to fulfil the parentโ€™s needs and requests, no matter how inappropriate. Such children are trained to be emotionally attuned to what the parent needs and wants. Itโ€™s a tall order and an impossible job for adults, much less a small child.

A child with an omnipotent personality acts as a complement to a self-focused parent. The omnipotent child will attempt to care for and meet a selfish parentโ€™s needs and desires.

Since omnipotent children strive to do what Dad wants or be what Mom demands, they fall short. Selfish parents ask too much and are capricious, readily changing their demands. When these children fail to please selfish parents, they feel guilty, berate themselves, and lose self-esteem and confidence.

Omnipotent-role children feel anxious, get depressed, and believe they are of little value for failing the selfish parentโ€™s demands. This puts them at risk for emotional illnesses of depression, academic failure, social withdrawal from friends, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse, and eating disorders.

Related: Identifying Toxic Parenting: 16 Types Of Toxic Parents, Signs And How To Deal

Effects on Impotent Children

The other emotionally conditioned role for children in families is the impotent role. These children are raised differently from omnipotent children.

Impotent refers to their unaware belief and actions of helplessness in their relationships. They are raised to be self-absorbed, like the self-centered parent. In this situation there are two peas in a pod. Parent and child are alike in personality.

An impotent parent and impotent child robustly compete with one another. Each wants to be the top dog in the relationship. Each wants his or her way. Young impotent children are often bullied by their selfish parent with put-downs and name-calling.

At other times they may be favored children, regarded by selfish parents as special. This happens because the parents project their own specialness and self-centered view onto the child. It is like looking in a mirror.

Older impotent children and teenagers bully and fight back with their impotent parent. This can create verbal and even physical conflict, as they both erupt with demands to gain their way in the relationship.

Impotent personality teens may run away from home, self-mutilate, abuse substances, or become involved in legal troubles. They are more likely to be outwardly volatile in their reactions to a self absorbed parent than are omnipotent personality children, who curtail their emotional reactions.

Self centered parenting

Difficulties Follow into Adult Life

Unfortunately, the effects of living with a self absorbed parent do not vanish at the end of childhood. As children grow to adulthood, they continue to relate to other selfish people the same way they were emotionally conditioned to do as a child.

We discovered that omnipotent personality children often marry self-focused mates. They focus on pleasing and caring for their partner. They neglect themselves in the relationship. Often, they walk on emotional eggshells, striving to never upset their mates.

Impotent children may form the same high-conflict relationships with other selfish people. They will always be in a contest to get their way in the relationship. They may have frequent emotional blow-ups and even physical altercations.

A Way Out

Hopefully, self-absorbed people will want to improve themselves before they become parents. They can do this by taking honest stock of their own emotional conditioning style.

How were you raised? Were you indulged and allowed to have your way a great deal? Did other family members give in to your requests, demands, or tantrums, no matter how unreasonable they were? Do you expect others to meet your desires and never thwart you?

Related: 5 Signs You Are The Child Of A Toxic Parent

If answers to these questions are positive for you, then you were likely raised in an impotent role. Your job before becoming a parent is to undo some of your emotional conditioning.

Seek out psychotherapy and work with a therapist. By so doing you can be prepared to raise your children in a reasonable way, listening to their needs and viewpoints and imposing judicious guidance and discipline. By undertaking the job of changing yourself, their childhoods will not be all about you.

Check out her website to see more blogs, podcasts and articles. Also, donโ€™t forget to check out her amazing book, Living on Automatic: How Emotional Conditioning Shapes Our Lives and Relationships.

Living on Automatic: How Emotional Conditioning Shapes Our Lives and Relationships

References:

Brown, N.B., (2020). Children of the Self-Absorbed: A Grown-Ups Guide to Getting Over Narcissistic Parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Gibson, L.C., (2015). Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents: How To Heal from Distant, Rejecting, or Self-Involved Parents. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.

Written By Christine B. L. Adams M.D.
Originally Appeared On Psychology Today
living with a self absorbed parent

— Share —

, ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

When Grandparentsโ€™ Love Goes Sour: 8 Signs Of Toxic Grandparents And How To Survive Them

Signs Of Toxic Grandparents

Have you ever noticed certain behaviors that make you wonder if your grandparentsโ€™ love might be a littleโ€ฆ off? Spotting the signs of toxic grandparents can be tough, especially when society paints them as the ultimate source of unconditional love and support.

But sometimes, grandparents might cross boundaries, show favoritism, or create a stressful environment that doesnโ€™t quite feel right. If youโ€™ve ever felt uneasy about their behavior, youโ€™re not alone.

In this article, weโ€™ll dive into the subtle and not-so-subtle signs of toxic grandparents and give you some strategies regarding how to deal with toxic grandparents, without causing family drama.

First, let us try to understand what are toxic grandparents.

Up Next

Unlocking The Pain Of The Past: 10 Signs Of Repressed Childhood Trauma In Adults

Ever find yourself reacting strongly to situations and not quite sure why? Either you hear echoes of your past, or itโ€™s probably because you listen to your inner child. In this article, weโ€™re delving into the signs of repressed childhood trauma in adults โ€“ those subtle whispers from your younger self that can shape your present.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Up Next

The Hidden Toll of Childhood Emotional Incest: Identifying Signs and Effects

Emotional incest confuses parent-child dynamics, creating emotional dependency. Letโ€™s look at the signs and effects of this incomprehensible relationship to gain a better understanding.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Emotional incest has been compared to actual incest because it similarly creates long-lasting effects on psychosocial developme

Up Next

How To Create A Toddler-Friendly Home: 10 Helpful Tips For New Parents!

Bringing a toddler to your house can be both exciting and challenging. As soon as they begin taking notice of their surroundings, the environment in which they dwell must be secure, comfortable, and conducive to growth.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

It is important to learn how to create a toddler-friendly home because this will provide them with holistic development o

Up Next

How to Become Pregnant with PCOS: 6 Proven Strategies For A Promising Start

Generally, women who have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) get problems in conceiving a child and starting a family. If you suffer from this condition of PCOS then we recommend you to take up this manual on how to become pregnant with PCOS.ย 

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

According to American Familiesโ€™

Up Next

Why Do I Hate My Father? 8 Effective Ways to Mend Your Relationship

โ€œWhy do I hate my father?โ€ โ€“ if you have ever asked yourself this question, then trust me, you are not alone. Not having a good relationship with your father is one of the most painful things to experience in life.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Father-child relationships can be really complicated in many cases, and itโ€™s normal to feel a mix of emotions. Whethe

Up Next

5 Steps To Raise An Emotionally Intelligent Child

Raising an emotionally intelligent child can seem challenging, but honestly, it doesnโ€™t have to be. This article is going to talk about the importance of nurturing emotional intelligence in children, and how it can help them thrive emotionally, as well as socially.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});