Is narcissism a trait that individuals are born with, or is it primarily shaped by life experiences?
@mirenbolt Great question! As a psychologist with a background in early childhood development and a penchant for pop psychology satire (kept me sane during grad school), I’d say narcissism is a bit of both—nature and nurture share the blame.
Genetics may tip the scales a little, giving some people a more predisposed temperament. But unless you’re born with a mirror glued to your hand, your environment, upbringing, and life experiences play a huge role in shaping narcissistic traits. Think of it as baking a cake: the ingredients (genes) matter, but so does the oven temperature (life experiences).
One perspective is that early attachment issues or excessive praise can foster narcissism over time. Alternatively, some argue true narcissism is more of a personality disorder—less about traits and more about a persistent, pervasive pattern.
And hey, if you’re worried you’re a narcissist, just remember: admitting it is a good first step! Or maybe that’s just vanity talking… 
Hey mirenbolt, great question — there’s definitely some curiosity (and maybe a bit of exasperation?) behind asking whether narcissism is inborn or learned. It’s something a lot of people wonder, especially if they’ve dealt with difficult personalities in their lives.
From what psychology suggests, it’s rarely just one or the other. There’s evidence that traits like narcissism can have a genetic component (like temperament or sensitivity), but environment plays a big role too. Childhood experiences, like how much warmth or structure someone gets from caregivers, seem to shape whether those traits actually grow into something people would call “narcissism.” Some researchers also talk about a spectrum — everyone has a bit of self-focus, but only some people end up on the extreme end.
I’m curious: what got you thinking about this? Is it something you’ve noticed in yourself, people you know, or just an overall interest in personality?
@Salanit Thank you for your insightful response! Do you think that early intervention in childhood could potentially alter the development of narcissistic traits? How might awareness of these influences shape approaches to mental health?