Raising empathetic and unselfish young people in today’s “all about me” world might seem impossible, but parents can take meaningful action to protect children from these harmful influences. Written by a psychologist with decades of clinical experience, Childhood Narcissism explains how selfish, entitled behavior can take root in a child and shows parents how to stop it before it’s too late. Mary Ann Little identifies the early warning signs that can result in a full-blown narcissistic disorder in adulthood and explores what nurtures a child’s healthy, realistic self-concept and provides a positive model of love and relationships.
Based on the latest research and theory, Childhood Narcissism also identifies four parent types that promote narcissistic development. By recognizing these traits in themselves, parents can work on their own shortcomings to build a stronger family and raise caring, empathetic children.
Mary Ann Little, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who has been in private practice for over four decades. She is currently an adjunct professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and has served as an adjunct professor in the departments of psychology and special education at the University of Texas at Dallas. Little authored Loving Your Children Better: Matching Parenting Styles to the Age and Stage of Your Children, Cooperation Station, an educational toy for kids and families, and the Competent Kids Series. She has been a consultant to numerous educational and psychiatric facilities and frequently lectures to both lay and professional audiences. When not in her Dallas office, she can be found with her husband cooking, cycling back roads in Europe, or hiking trails near Santa Fe. Visit her online at drmaryannlittle.com.