163: Am I Raising a Narcissist? Why Sensitive Kids Show a Lack of Empathy When They're Upset

September 29, 2026•1 min read
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Have you ever caught yourself Googling "am I raising a narcissist" at 2am after another rough day? Does your child hit their sister, call you names, and show zero remorse? Do they melt down every time you say no, or shut down the second you ask them to own what happened?

In this episode, I share why sensitive, emotionally intense kids can look narcissistic.

You'll learn:

  • Why your sensitive kid can show a lack of empathy when someone else is hurting

  • Why your child's still-developing emotional regulation can get mistaken for narcissism

  • What narcissistic personality disorder actually looks like, according to the DSM-5

  • What your child's age has to do with the question of raising a narcissist

  • How narcissism really develops, and what's hiding underneath all that grandiosity

  • Why your sensitive kid feels SO much shame, no matter what you do

  • What is emotional safety, and how it changes the way your child handles shame

  • What does emotional safety look like when your child has just hit their sibling

  • How to create emotional safety after you've lost your cool with your kid

  • What's really behind extreme defensiveness when you ask your child to take accountability

If you’ve ever worried about what your child’s behavior means for who they will become, this episode will help you understand what may be going on underneath the surface.

Here's to raising resilient kids,
Dr. Hilary

Find more from Dr. Hilary:
Raised Resilient |Website|Instagram|Facebook Group
Raised Resilient Chaos to Connection Program |Website

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