The approval, attention, and adulation that an individual with narcissistic personality disorder seeks from those around them is known as narcissistic supply: it's as important as the air a narcissist breathes. It helps them feel better about themselves and reinforces their inflated feeling of self-importance. Children of narcissistic parents are frequently sacrificed for them to acquire this narcissistic supply.
Narcissistic Supply: What Is It?
For narcissists, anything that makes them feel special, superior, and worthy of excessive praise is a source of narcissistic supply. Examples of this could include when people show their approval, respect, and obedience in an obvious way. Being the centre of attention, having a strong sense of control over other people, or obtaining excessive admiration by manipulating or intimidating others are all examples of more subtle manifestations.
An Appetite for Narcissism in Parents
When it comes to getting their hands on this essential narcissistic supply, narcissistic parents often turn to their children. Babies learn to respect adults in charge and have a tendency to idolise their parents. This sets the stage for the narcissistic parent to show little regard for the child's genuine identity or needs while simultaneously demanding an unhealthy amount of adoration and obedience.
Here are a few scenarios where an insatiable need for self-centred fulfilment could manifest:
- Using the child as a puppet to satisfy the parent's need for adoration and control
- Treating the child badly so the parent feels good about themselves
- Living off the child's successes to gain approval and status
- Limiting the child's independence so the parent feels good about themselves
- Disregarding the child's wishes to further the parent's narcissistic goals
An Impact on Other Areas
Beyond the parent-child connection, this tendency is also widely observed. To satisfy their narcissistic supply demands, narcissistic parents may take advantage of others, whether it's members of their own family, friends, or even the wider public. This need for narcissistic pleasure can lead to the demeaning, manipulation, or exploitation of anyone - spouses, family, or complete strangers.
Ultimately, victims, particularly children, can suffer tremendous psychological harm at the hands of narcissists who are consumed by their own narcissistic needs. Through comprehending this idea, we can shed light on these terrible human costs and strive for greater responsibility and restoration.
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