Researchers through a recent study found the relationship between narcissistic children and parents who overvalue them. They told that people are not narcissists by birth, instead their parents push them on this path by praising them too much and adding the feeling of superiority in them.

According to Brad Bushman, a professor of communication and psychology at Ohio State University, loving one’s kid is quite healthy and good. But when parents start thinking that their child is better than other children, it can lead to narcissism.

The team during the study studied nearly 565 kids between the ages of 7 and 12. Parents of these kids were also interviewed every six months for continuous 18 months.

Researchers asked kids about how much they agree with the statements like “I am a great example for other kids to follow and I am very good at making other people believe what I want them to believe”. On the other hand parents were asked whether they would feel disappointed if their child would have been a regular kid, etc.

The team found that parents who thought their kids are better and deserve more than others were more likely to pass that feeling on to their children.

Researchers said although it is not at all a bad thing for parents to think their children are great, the problem arises when they start thinking that other kids are bad.

Lead author of the study Eddie Brummelman of the University of Amsterdam said although narcissism is often seen as deeply entrenched personality trait, it can even change.

When one is a narcissist at one time in life it does not means that he or she will remain narcissist for rest of life.

The study also suggested that constant and undue praise for tiniest accomplishments, or non-accomplishments, of kids by their parents can have the unintended side-effect of creating an over-inflated ego.