Parenting styles play a central and crucial role when it comes to determining how children will turn out and play out their adult roles and responsibilities. Capron set out to establish the relationship between four parental pampering styles and narcissism as provided for by prior and similar studies. Capron asserted that narcissist individuals are the kind of people who think that the world operates around them and have a sense of self-importance. While this self-importance can be so overwhelming, the study emphasizes that it is related to parenting where parents are either overindulging, overprotective, over permissive or over domineering.
The article lays the ground for the study by focusing on previous studies, which correlate parental pampering styles and narcissism. Capron ties the study to Kaplan (1985) and Grunwald and McAbee (1985), who described the four ways of pampering a child and how each of the ways produces certain psychological consequences. The four pampering parental styles are overindulgence, Overpermissiveness, over domineering and overprotective. Overindulgence is a form of pampering parental style where the child is right to take and not to give giving rise to egotistic, entitled, manipulative, tyrannical, and exploitative individuals. Overpermissive parents allow their children to do whatever they want without considering its effects on others or without regard to social rights. Overdomineering pampering parental style sends a message that the children have no right to make a decision and have to depend on the parents to make decisions on their behalf. (Capron, 2004, p. 75) These children may lose their self-confidence, which contributes to overdependence low achievements and can become rebels when they grow up. Finally, overprotective pampering parental style involves parents overestimate the physical dangers that lie in the environment. In this case, the parent hovers around the child and disallows the child from fulfilling tasks and functions.
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The research study by Capron had two main hypotheses aimed at establishing the relationship between pampering parental styles and narcissism. The first hypotheses is that “all four pampering styles would positively correlate with narcissism in both men and women” the second hypotheses states that “overindulgence and over permissiveness were the most directly linked with narcissism and therefore would show stronger correlations than would either overprotection or over domination” (Capron, 2004, p. 82)
In order to perform the research study, Capron used 200 participants, all of whom were aged 18 years and above. Of the 200 hundred participants, 100 were females, and 100 were males. All the participants were drawn from the southeast Louisiana area. Of importance, here is the fact that all the participants had been enrolled in an introductory psychology course. The participants were allowed the autonomy of choosing this study from a list of all the available research studies. The research participants were required to fill up a Background Questionnaire that helped the researcher to determine their ages and ordinal birth order. The procedure for filling up the questionnaire involved assembling the participants in groups of 10 with each group sitting one row away from the next for privacy. The proctor then read the standardized set of questions for each group so that the participants could fill them. In this regard, the participants filled out the Background Questionnaire, Nationwide Personality Inventory, and Parental Behavior Questionnaire. The participants required approximately 30 minutes to complete filling out the entire testing packet. On the collection of the testing packets, the researchers debriefed the participants on the purpose of the study. Similarly, the participants were allowed to ask questions which was answered promptly.
The research study used three research tools to test out and validate the hypotheses as mentioned above related to pampering parental styles and narcissism. The background questionnaire, helped the researcher to measure the participants socioeconomic status, gender, marital status birth order, and size of the residence. These questions would help the researcher to relate the findings with these factors that affect the parenting styles. The researcher further used Narcissist Personality Inventory (NPI), which was disguised as the Nationwide Personality Inventory. This tool was used to measure individual differences in narcissism. This latest revision of NPI used 40 true-false items, which are an outcome of years of research in the field of narcissism as facilitated by pampering parenting. The final research instrument that the study used was the Parental Behavior Questionnaire that was devised by Williamson. This instrument uses 7-item self-report questionnaires, where the participants describe their parents' behaviors on the scale of 1 to 5. Four questions are asked with each question reflecting each of the four pampering parenting styles.
The results of this study reflected the aforementioned hypotheses to a large extent. From the research study, it is clear that all of the four pampering parenting styles positively correlate with narcissism in both men and women. According to Capron, all the four parenting styles contributed to the PBQ as they ranged from .70 to. 50 where overprotection contributed the most while overpermissiveness contributed the least. The research study also affirmed the second hypotheses, which established that overpermissiveness and overindulgence were more interrelated with narcissism as compared to overprotection or over domination. From the full sample, it was clear that overindulgence was positively related to authority, entitlement, exploitativeness, and exhibitionism. Overpermissiveness was found to have a positive correlation with entitlement for both women and men and exploitativeness in females. On the other hand, over domination was negatively correlated with exhibitionism, exploitativeness, and entitlement. Overprotection was negatively related to self-sufficiency, entitlement, and vanity.
Critique
The research study comes out as diligent hoping to seal the existing loopholes when it comes to the relationship between pampering parenting styles and narcissism. The research study borrows heavily from previous research studies and thus prepares the reader adequately for what is coming. The best thing about the research study is the fact that it has an extensive literature review, which helps even the laypeople to understand the concepts of narcissism and pampering parenting styles. In a way, this research study is an improvement of previous studies something that qualifies it as informative and factual. The literature review helps place a psychological aspect to pampering parenting as one can see the connection between parenting and a child's future psychological outcome. It is true to say that, the narcissist outcomes in children are unconscious as the parents are not even aware that they embrace parenting detrimental styles.
The research study has made use of improved research tools and instruments which may have helped to improve the reliability, testability, and validity of the findings. Previous research studies used the Tennessee Self-concept Scale with 29 scales, which may have allowed for a bewildering number of types and patterns of low self-esteem. In 1967, Nikelly used a mixed sample of mental disturbances, something that did not yield a clear cut correlation between parenting and narcissism. Capron felt that it would have been advisable to use a homogenous criterion group, which would have helped to link pampering and narcissist tendencies. To this end, the research study can be heralded, considering it involved 200 participants from the same location and probably with the same research criterion.
The best thing about the research study is the fact that it has established the weaknesses in prior research instruments intending to come up with research that is more reflective findings. In particular, Capron asserts that he has used a measure that combines parental permissiveness as opposed to using one that measures either maternal or paternal permissiveness. In the end, Capron uses the Parental Behavior Questionnaire, which was developed by Williamson. The best thing about this tool is the fact that it is considered valid as it is based on the typologies which suggested by Kaplan (1985)and Grunwald and McAbee (1985). The researcher improved the measure by adding an extra yes-or-o question at the end of the questionnaire and anyone answering no to the question would be disqualified. The Narcissist Personality Inventory that is used in this study is quite valid as it is an improvement from the previous versions. This measure is considered objective as it is a self-reporting, which allows participants autonomy to their responses.
While the research study is plausible for the extensive literature review that offers a background to the topic under research, it has a few shortcomings. The sample of 200 participants with 100 men and women may have presented challenges when it comes to homogeneity, which is meant to achieve almost similar results. It is not enough that the participants are drawn from the same location; there is a need to ensure that they present varied parenting experiences. The participants may affect the results of the study, especially if they are from one particular race or social-economic status. It would have been better if the researcher had drawn participants from various regions to create a differentiated sample. In addition to this, the researcher may have used away less number of participants, and, likely, the results are not reflective. In particular, the results cannot probably be used as an authoritative conclusion that can be applied to another different population.
Self-report as a method of collecting information could be considered as the best way to enhance objectivity in the research study, but it may be a source of bias. It must be noted that the research is quite sensitive, considering that the researcher needed to know if the participant exhibited personality issues. Of importance is the fact that the researchers are dealing with adults who are through with the parenting role. It is likely that most of the participants cannot possibly remember how they were parented and have to rely on vague and long-forgotten memories. The participants may have been influenced by personal bias all in the attempt of shielding their parents. Take the case of children whose parents were overpermissive, allowing them to do as they please. If by the time of the research, the participants knew that the Overpermissiveness ruined them, they may choose to twist the questions. For this reason, it is highly likely that the responses were biased or untrue, which then brings the reliability and validity of the research to question.
The research study may have presented a biased outcome considering that the researcher chose to debrief the participants once they had filled the questionnaires. One would conclude that such a decision goes against the research ethics, where the researcher ought to tell the participant what they are up to even before they agree to answer research questions. By debriefing the participants on the purpose of the study long after they handed their responses, contravenes research ethics, which, in turn, diminishes the research authority and credibility. As if this was not enough, the researcher chose to disguise the real purpose of the research by claiming that it was a measure for personality as opposed to the measure of narcissism. If the researcher had told the truth from the onset, then it is likely that the participants would have been genuine enough. For this reason, then the research findings have become subjective rather than objective and reflective.
Relationship of the Study to Personality Theory
The study relates to various personality theories which try to explain why individuals turn out the way they do. In particular, the study relates to those theories, which establish why some individuals tend to think that the world revolves around them; and thus should be treated as such. I believe that the theory that relates best with the study is the psychodynamic perspective of narcissism. This model or perspective is guided by two dominant schools of thoughts, namely the object relations theory and the self-psychology perspective. The self-psychology Kohut of narcissism was proposed by Kohut, who believed that narcissism should be considered as a normal developmental milestone. According to Yakeley (2018), a healthy person is expected to transform the infantile narcissism into adult narcissism. This transformation tends to take place during the transmuting internalization process as proposed by Kohut. In particular, as the infant in transforming into an grownup, he or she will undoubtedly meet various challenges, which will, in turn, bring frustrations.
The ability to navigate through these challenges can be closely tied to the parenting styles as proposed by the study. A child with overindulgent parents will most likely not have the chance to encounter these challenges, which are considered normal and healthy. In this case, the child will miss the chance to be normal and will end up believing that anything goes. The child will never accept challenges in adult life and will expect others to deal with the challenges, which will contribute to overrated narcissistic tendencies. On the other hand, over permissive pampering parenting style, provides an avenue for the child to explore the world without limitations, something that can open a lot more challenges and frustration for the child. The child may result in narcissistic tendencies since for him, rules do not apply, and he or she does not have respect for others rights or autonomy. Kohut advanced the theory by establishing that when individuals encounter optimal frustration, they tend to develop a stronger internal structure in the form of a strong sense of self. This strong sense of self is used to compensate for lack of external structure, which comes from getting support from others.
The research study has established that over-domineering and overprotective parents pay a significant role in advancing narcissistic tendencies. This form of parenting relegates the child to the background as he or she is seen as an individual who cannot make independent decisions. In a way, this kind of treatment can be equated to denying the child external structure. It is perhaps for this reason that individuals who experience overprotective and overdomineering parenting presented exhibitionism and entitlement exploitativeness tendencies in the research participants. Kohut asserts that it is possible for the children to remain stuck at the infantile level, especially if the individuals experience frustrations that are beyond the optimal level. In this regard, the person turns out to be invulnerable and omnipotent individuals, which are key aspects of narcissism.
Apart from Kohut’s self-psychology perspective into narcissism, the research study relates to Kernberg’s objects relations theory as found in the psychodynamic view of narcissism. Kernbergs theory is based on the theory of the separation-individuation process as proposed by Mahler. The theory states that a developing child must master two phases, namely the normal autism and normal symbiosis before gaining a stable self-concept. More so, the child must master differentiation, rapprochement, practising, and consolidation, which are the four sub-phases in the separation-individuation process. A child who is unable to navigate the rapprochement subphase (14 to 24 months) becomes frustrated, and there is a possibility of becoming a narcissist (Yakeley, 2018, p. 317). The phase which follows the practicing sub-phase makes the child realize that the sense of grandiosity he had when he learned to walk is gone.
At the rapprochement phase, the child realizes that he or she is not omnipotent as there are other important things. The parent can help the child to deal with this reality, depending on the kind of parenting the parent chooses. Overprotective, over-permissive, overindulging, and over-domineering parenting styles all contribute to narcissism depending on the parenting mix. Overindulging and overprotective parents help the child to retreat to the practicing sub-phase, which is vital in affording the child the sense of omnipotence and grandiosity. The participants who operated exploitativeness and entitlement did not navigate the four sub-phases. On the other hand, overdomineering and overpermissive parents may have made their children so insecure when they were growing up and are likely to demonstrate exhibitionism as a way of coping with a lack of grandiosity and impotency.
Relationship of the Study to Personal Life and Personality Development
The study on the connection between pampering parental styles and narcissism relates to my life mostly. The reason why this is the case is the fact that I had an interesting childhood one, where my parents were always there for me to cater to my whims and needs. Looking back, I feel that they were overwhelmed since they had not had the opportunity to have another child before me. My parents tended to be overprotective and over domineering, and they would not allow me to play outside with other children, as they feared for my safety. Every time I wanted to play outside on the snow, they would ensure that I had heavy and dense clothes for protection. Some children would be allowed outside in the rain, and I did not understand why this was the case. I think this kind of protectiveness created in me a desire to explore more on my own and see what I had missed out when I was growing up.
My parents made all decisions on my behalf and never at any one time asked me what I wanted or what I did not want. At this point, I did not think of it as much as I thought that my parents’ behaviors were normal. The research study has opened my eyes to the fact that my parents were too overprotective, always thinking that dangers lie ahead. I must confess that they have contributed to who I am today, an explorer who is not afraid to do what I want no matter the risks involved. Interestingly, I have realized that this parenting has contributed to some narcissistic tendencies I now realize that I have. In particular, I realize that I score low in self-sufficiency, as I tend to depend on friends and families before making life choices. I used to wonder why I could not stand on my own two feet after all these years. I believe that by my parents shielding me and making all the decisions for me, they affected my decision-making skills.
While I think that being dependent, is plausible, I also think that it is a narcissistic tendency. Look at it this way; I have people making decisions for me means that I do not have to waste my energy on them. It is as if I am commanding an army to risk their lives on mental quests while I sit waiting for feedback. I now realize that this dependence gives me a sense of self-importance and grandiosity. My parents, for instance, keep on calling me asking how I am doing and if would like ay importance. It is as if they are still at my disposal, and they have to do everything in my power to enhance my survival. Overall, the research study has helped me to realize that it is important to be moderate when parenting to bring up individuals with moderate personalities. When my time comes, I will not repeat the mistakes of my parents. I do not want to raise narcissistic children who feel entitled to anything.
References
Capron, E. W. (2004). Types of pampering and the narcissistic personality trait. Journal of Individual Psychology, 60 (1), 76-93.
Yakeley, J. (2018). Current understanding of narcissism and narcissistic personality disorder. BJPsych Advances, 24 (5), 305-315.
