There are debates as to what exactly causes a person to become a narcissist. Is it nature, nurture, or a combination of both? Psychoanalyst Dr. Gail Saltz said there is no real answer, and it is most likely a combination of genetic pre-disposal to certain personality traits and external triggers.

However, Dr. Fran Walfish told The List she firmly believes the narcissism seeds are planted in early childhood, and parents can be forming those tendencies in their children as early as the toddler days. Either a parent is too harsh on the child, never being satisfied with anything the child does to the point that their love feels conditional, or they are too indulgent, building a false sense of entitlement in their child. It's the teacher's fault if the child makes a bad grade, or the coach is an idiot for not starting the child on the soccer team.

Narcissistic parents tend to see their children as an extension of themselves, so they often demand perfection or see perfection that isn't there. Because of that, they are more likely to raise narcissistic children.