Understanding the effects of parental NPD on adult children : the perspective of practising professionals

Abstract

This research study’s focus was the identification and understanding of parental narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) on progeny. The relatively high incidence of NPD and its as yet unestablished cause, along with its acknowledged damaging effects on both sufferers and their progeny renders such a study as one of importance and value. A thorough review of pertinent literature was conducted in order to get a holistic view of existing knowledge in the field and to subsequently cross-check with the study’s empirical research findings. The research strategy adopted was of a qualitative nature, based on a case-study approach where a number of interviews with a purposively sampled set of qualified, experienced and practising psychologists were conducted. The analysis and synthesis of both the data collected from this qualitative research exercise and the perspectives lifted from the literature review clearly qualify the effects of parental NPD on progeny as highly damaging. NPD parents typically exhibit an utter lack of empathy and disregard for the needs of others — including their progeny — as they are mostly only concerned with themselves. These factors typically translate to the neglect of the progeny, with the latter ending up traumatised and deeply wounded emotionally. This results in impaired self-development leading to a dysfunctional personality and also at risk of developing NPD traits themselves due to incorrect imprinting. This study recommends increased awareness in relation to NPD’s detrimental effects and for further study to be undertaken with the aim of finding its causes and identifying methods to treat and minimise the disorder.