Is Narcissism Hereditary or Learned?

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An expert-approved breakdown of the causes of narcissism personality disorder
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Narcissism personality disorder (NPD) is a medical condition where someone has an unreasonably high sense of their own value and worth. But is this one of those medical conditions you’re born with, or is it something you develop later in life? While the cause of NPD may not make it easier to deal with a narcissist, it may help you to understand them better if you know a little bit about why they are the way they are. In this article, we’ll break down what the experts say when it comes to the origins of NPD. We’ll also cover the signs you might be dating a narcissist, so read on.

Things You Should Know

  • Most research suggests that narcissism is a complex condition caused by a combination of genetic, hereditary, and environmental causes.
  • Someone is more likely to develop narcissism if they’re traumatized or abused as a child.
  • Parents can minimize the odds their child develops narcissism by enforcing consequences and showing affection.
Section 1 of 5:

Is narcissism inherited or learned?

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  1. Like most mental/emotional issues, narcissism is most likely partially inherited and partially environmental. Based on decades of research, narcissism appears to be a spectrum. On the lower end, it can be a mild personality trait that occasionally ruffles feathers and makes relationships difficult. On the more extreme end, it can be a full-blown personality disorder. [1]
    • Narcissism personality disorder first develops when someone is in their late teens or early 20s, which may indicate narcissism requires childhood experiences to develop. [2]
    • One study on twins demonstrated that if one child had narcissistic personality disorder, there was a 77% chance the other twin would have the condition. This could point towards a major hereditary component.
    • Regardless of the view you take, narcissists don’t choose to be the way they are. They were either born that way, or created that way when they were very young.
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Section 2 of 5:

Risk Factors for Narcissism

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  1. There’s a high correlation between experiencing traumatic events in childhood and developing narcissism as an adult. It’s likely that narcissism is a maladaptive coping strategy to things like physical abuse, violence, or loss of a loved one. [3]
    • Maladaptive behavior refers to any adaptation someone makes that harms their well-being (like anxiety, depression, or narcissism). The adaptive version of narcissism is high self-esteem.
    • For example, if a child is physically abused when they’re young, the maladaptive response may be fear which develops into a narcissistic need for reassurance later in life.
  2. A parent’s treatment of their child accounts for a lot when it comes to their personality as an adult. [4] If a parent goes out of their way to make a child feel better than everyone, or if they’re so cruel and selfish that they neglect their child, they’re increasing the odds that their child develops narcissism later in life. [5]
    • There are actually two variations of narcissism: grandiose, where the person thinks they’re better than everyone, and vulnerable, where the person is scared nobody thinks they’re good at anything.
    • As an example, neglect and abuse may create a vulnerable narcissist, while a parent who treats their child like they can do no wrong is more likely to create a grandiose narcissist. [6]
  3. If both of your parents are narcissistic, you’re much more likely to develop NPD later in life. While your personality isn’t fixed by any means and anyone can make a serious attempt to be a better person, there is a chunk of who you are that was given to you. It’s the same way someone might naturally be shy, or extroverted, or funny even without trying to be. [7]
    • Whether you view this as being genetic or learned behavior, the core point is that some narcissists are just naturally that way.
  4. There are some studies out there that indicate there could be a genetic malfunction that contributes to the development of narcissistic personality disorder. The same way there appears to be an alcoholic gene and a gambling gene, there very well could be a narcissistic gene. [8]
    • One study found that people with NPD may have a genetic disorder that increases levels of oxidative stress in their blood. This is also a marker for interpersonal sensitivity, so perhaps there is an “extreme personal reaction” gene. [9]
  5. You’re more likely to develop narcissism if you grow up in a culture that puts a lot of value in individual freedom and expression, and less likely to develop narcissism if you grow up in a culture where family and community are more heavily emphasized. As a whole, you’re probably less likely to run into a narcissist if you go to Asia, South America, or the Nordic countries, and more likely to find a narcissist in North America and Western Europe. [10]
    • With that said, parental upbringings aren’t universal. It’s possible for a hyper-individualistic family to raise a narcissist in Asia and for a community-focused family to raise a non-narcissist in North America.
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Section 3 of 5:

What kind of upbringing creates a narcissist?

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  1. If a child is taught that they can do no wrong, they never have to apologize, and they’re encouraged to believe that they deserve things without earning them, it’s possible that they’ll develop NPD later in life. [11]
    • As an example, if a child starts a fight in school and their teacher calls their parents, the parents are overvaluing their child in an unhealthy way if they take their kid’s side and don’t punish them.
    • Parent overvaluation is more likely to create a grandiose narcissist than a vulnerable narcissist.
    • Overvaluation is in contrast to parental warmth, where a parent expresses appreciation and affection but enforces boundaries and consequences, which is a healthy way to create a well-adjusted child with high self-esteem.
  2. If someone grows up being rewarded for lying, taking things from other people, or ignoring people in need, they may internalize a kind of narcissism as they get older. [12] In an extreme form, this kind of narcissism may develop into (or express comorbidity with) sociopathy. [13]
    • For example, let’s say a child steals candy and their parent catches them. The child lies and says they found it. If the parent doesn’t punish their child, even though they know they’re probably lying, it can encourage future selfishness.
  3. If a child doesn’t get the care or affection they need when they’re young, they may start acting out to get the attention they need. If they’re rewarded with that attention, it can create a loop where the child acts out more and more. This can develop into narcissism when they get older. [14]
    • Say a child is ignored at home. So, they go to school and talk in class often enough that the teacher responds to them. For that child, this attention will replace whatever they’re missing and they’ll continue to act out.
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Section 4 of 5:

Signs You’re in a Relationship with a Narcissist

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  1. If you’re dating a narcissist, you’ll probably get the vibe that they’re super into themselves. They’re going to prioritize their needs over yours, and steer conversations towards what they want. You may even notice they treat service workers poorly, or that they always blame the failures of others instead of taking responsibility. [15]
    • For the grandiose narcissist, they think they’re so special that it’s impossible other people deserve as much praise or attention.
    • Vulnerable narcissists are so insecure that they need to behave like they’re special to convince everyone around them.
  2. Deep down, narcissists are extremely fragile. There’s always that little voice in the back of their head telling them that they aren’t all that special or unique, so if someone questions them, it can make them extremely angry. Narcissist rage can be scary, intense, and dramatic. [16]
    • In its most extreme form, a narcissist in a state of rage can be physically or emotionally abusive. Never put up with abuse and don’t accept any rationalizations. If you need help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a friend, family member, or even law enforcement to get out of the relationship .
  3. Narcissists tend to spend a lot of time fixating on how they can acquire more attention, money, or items. At the same time, they’ll likely assume that everyone else is envious of them because of how awesome and special they are. [17]
    • You may even notice that they downplay your accomplishments or try to play it off like they’ve got a better version of whatever you’ve just acquired.
  4. If you love hearing about how awesome your partner is, you just might enjoy being with a narcissist. Narcissists will spend an unusual amount of time talking about how awesome they are. In fact, they may spend so much time focusing on how much they’ve achieved that they won’t even notice it if you do something worth celebrating. [18]
  5. One of the biggest signs that you’re dating a narcissist is that you feel like you aren’t getting your needs met and you start questioning your self-esteem. Narcissists are masters at keeping the attention on them, and it can be draining and upsetting to be around them in the long run. [20]
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Quiz

wikiHow Quiz: Am I a Covert Narcissist?

Are you wondering if you have the covert form of narcissistic personality disorder (NPD)? NPD is a mental health disorder characterized by high self-importance, a lack of empathy, and low self-esteem. While overt (grandiose) narcissists tend to be extroverted and sociable, covert narcissists are more withdrawn and, on the surface, might not appear narcissistic at all. While only a qualified mental health professional can diagnose you with NPD, this quiz can help you get a better sense of whether you have traits and tendencies associated with covert narcissism.
1 of 12

You often fantasize about being important, special, or powerful.

Section 5 of 5:

Treatment for NPD

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  1. You cannot technically cure narcissistic personality disorder, but it can be managed and treated with talk therapy. In therapy, a narcissist can learn how to recognize their own shortcomings, manage personal relationships, and challenge personal issues with self-esteem and attention. They’ll also learn how to heal from past traumas and process what they’ve experienced. [22]
    • Unfortunately, there are no medications designed or approved for narcissistic personality disorder.

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      Expert Interview

      Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about narcissism, check out our in-depth interview with Adam Dorsay, PsyD .

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1420870112
      2. ↑ https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9742-narcissistic-personality-disorder
      3. ↑ https://estd.org/article/narcissism-as-a-consequence-of-trauma-and-early-experiences/
      4. ↑ Adam Dorsay, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist & TEDx Speaker. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7216544/
      6. ↑ Adam Dorsay, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist & TEDx Speaker. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1420870112
      8. ↑ https://www.apa.org/topics/personality-disorders/causes
      9. ↑ https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/forefront/research-and-discoveries-articles/study-shows-narcissistic-personality-disorder-may-have-a-biological-component
      1. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5783345/
      2. ↑ https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.1420870112
      3. ↑ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-disorders/narcissistic-personality-disorder.htm
      4. ↑ Liana Georgoulis, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist. Expert Interview
      5. ↑ https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/narcissistic-personality-disorder-npd#causes
      6. ↑ Liana Georgoulis, PsyD. Licensed Psychologist. Expert Interview
      7. ↑ https://www.choosingtherapy.com/narcissistic-rage/
      8. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/disorders/what-causes-narcissistic-personality-disorder
      9. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/disorders/what-causes-narcissistic-personality-disorder
      10. ↑ Lia Huynh, LMFT. Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist. Expert Interview
      11. ↑ https://psychcentral.com/disorders/what-causes-narcissistic-personality-disorder
      12. ↑ Rachel Eddins, M.Ed., LPC-S. Licensed Professional Counselor. Expert Interview
      13. ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/narcissistic-personality-disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20366690

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