7 Eye-Opening Links between Narcissism and Childhood Trauma.

The adage “Hurt people hurt people” is fitting when discussing the relationship between narcissism and childhood trauma. These two topics have gained increased recognition in recent times, with studies revealing that a traumatic childhood can manifest narcissistic traits and that those with narcissistic tendencies are more prone to have suffered childhood trauma.

These connections are by no means an excuse for the narcissist; however, they can contribute to an explanation and, for those narcissists ready to change, could be a catalyst for mending their ways.

Photo by Artyom Kabajev on Unsplash

Here are seven key links between narcissism and childhood trauma,

1. Childhood Abuse Can Lead to Narcissistic Traits: Childhood trauma can profoundly impact the development of an individual’s personality, including the development of narcissistic traits. For example, research has shown that childhood abuse and neglect can lead to feelings of low self-esteem, which in turn can lead to the development of narcissistic tendencies (Brown et al., 2015).
2. Narcissistic Parents Can Traumatize Children: Narcissistic parents can significantly impact their children's development, particularly regarding their emotional and psychological well-being. These parents may engage in emotionally abusive behaviours, such as using their…