What is a golden child?

Golden child syndrome, or being a “golden child,” is a term typically used by family, and most often by parents, to refer to a child in the family that's regarded as exceptional in some way. The golden child is expected to be extraordinary at everything, not make mistakes, and essentially be “perfect.”

What does the term golden child mean?

golden child (plural golden children) One who is favored or the favorite (in a family, on a team, at work, etc.), often held in high esteem by others, and for whom there are high hopes.

How do you know if you are the golden child?

What happens to the golden child as an adult?

A golden child's sense of self and their personal boundaries are erased, as their own sense of identity is replaced with the need to live up to their role. Their behaviors and beliefs reflect what their parent expects of them, and they may feel incapable of individuation even in adulthood.

Why do parents pick a golden child?

The Golden Child, as the name suggests, is the best and most wonderful child – at least in the eyes of the Narcissistic Mother. It seems to be that the Narcissistic Mother picks the Golden Child to be an extension of herself, onto whom she projects all her own supposed wonderfulness. The Golden Child can do no wrong.

The Golden Child Syndrome

Is the golden child a narcissist?

In the dysfunctional narcissistic family system, the golden child is the most likely to develop a narcissistic personality. Sibling abuse by a favored narcissistic brother usually follows a predictable pattern of behavior. There are strategies that can help protect you from a narcissistic brother's abuse.

Does the golden child grow up?

Growing up, the golden child that realizes there is a discrepancy between how they actually are as a person and how they are being touted to be can suffer from a lot of anxiety. They're likely constantly afraid of not meeting expectations, according to Smith.

What is the downside of being the golden child?

A golden child can become a narcissist. Because golden children are told that they must be good at everything and feel pressured to live up to unreasonable expectations, they are sometimes unable to develop their own sense of self. This can cause low self-esteem, which lays the foundation for becoming a narcissist.

Am I the scapegoat or golden child?

The scapegoat, responsible for everything that goes badly for the whole family. The golden child, who gets everything that they want, attention, praise and material possessions. The lost child, who is completely ignored by the whole family.

What is the opposite of a golden child?

The opposite of the golden child is the scapegoat: a child who gets blamed for everything that goes wrong, including for things that are the narcissist's fault. A child can get scapegoated for a number of reasons, but usually it's because they don't fulfill the narcissist's expectations in some way.

What kind of childhood creates a narcissist?

We demonstrate that narcissism in children is cultivated by parental overvaluation: parents believing their child to be more special and more entitled than others. In contrast, high self-esteem in children is cultivated by parental warmth: parents expressing affection and appreciation toward their child.

What is glass child syndrome?

Glass child syndrome isn't a medical condition or diagnosis. It's an informal term often used to describe the challenges and unique strengths of the siblings of children with chronic illnesses or disabilities.

Is being called the Golden Child a compliment?

Being referred to as the "golden child" does not always indicate a favorable circumstance. The family's golden child is typically selected as a stand-in for a parent's own accomplishments and magnificence. One of their "special" children is commonly given this identity by narcissistic parents.

Is the golden child jealous of the scapegoat?

It generally seems to be the golden child that feels this competition the most, they desperately want to win the narcissist's 'love'. The scapegoat probably cares deeply and loves their whole family. The narcissist sets up this competition and then fosters resentment, envy and even jealousy between their children.

What is an example of a golden child?

For example, expecting a child to obtain high grades in school or do every house chore perfectly. Such kids are also considered role models within the family. But unfortunately, this creates unnecessary pressure on other kids to reach the golden child's standards.

Does the golden child feel guilty?

In addition to the fear of failure, the Golden Child may also struggle with feelings of guilt and shame. You may feel guilty for not living up to your parents' expectations or ashamed for feeling like you're not good enough.

What is the golden child Gaslighting?

Those with Golden Child Syndrome, or contingent self-esteem, tend to become very codependent on their parents, who use psychological techniques like love bombing and gaslighting to control their actions. This leads many of these children to tie their self-worth to the praise of family members.

How do daughters of narcissistic mothers act?

Daughters of narcissistic mothers often struggle with low self-esteem and have a negative self-image. This negative self-image can manifest in various ways, such as feeling unworthy or inadequate, constantly seeking validation from others, or being overly critical of oneself.

Who is usually the scapegoat?

The family scapegoat is singled out and blamed for problems in the family. The burden of dysfunction of the group is placed on one member, regardless of the true causes of these issues. This person can be a child, step-child, troublesome uncle, or even a family friend.

Is the golden child codependent?

While the child is extremely codependent towards the narcissist parent, it is often a different story with other people she becomes involved with. Here she resists any form of treatment that she perceives as controlling and manipulative and often plays a narcissist role herself and becomes an emotional manipulator.

What happens to the scapegoat child in adulthood?

Do childhood scapegoats become troubled adults? Yes. They have spent a miserable childhood being ridiculed, put down, sneered at. Self esteem is often non existant, self hate is common, self harm, no confidence, suicidal idealation, depression is common.

What is the difference between golden child and lost child?

Being the lost child means you are not perceived as a threat like the scapegoat and you are not a good enough source of supply like the golden child. You still are subjected to emotional abuse and neglect but to a different agree than your siblings.

What happens to the golden child when the narcissist dies?

When the narcissistic mother passes away, the golden child is hit with a harsh realization that they are not the world or life's precious, perfect little kid. The golden child is forced to now be hit with a truth that they are not as perfect, as excellent, or as lovable as their mother has FOOLED them into believing.

Can a golden child be an empath?

Yes, with the proper support and guidance, a golden child can overcome their narcissistic tendencies and develop a healthier sense of self and empathy for others. This can be accomplished through therapy, self-reflection, and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors.

Do narcissists have a favorite child?

To sustain his or her emotional control over the children, the narcissist usually plays favorites. The child who agrees with the narcissist's negative perception of the opposite parent and displays complete loyalty to the narcissist is consistently showered with accolades, attention, and rewards.