Causes

It's not known what causes narcissistic personality disorder. As with personality development and with other mental health disorders, the cause of narcissistic personality disorder is likely complex. Narcissistic personality disorder may be linked to:

• Environment ? mismatches in parent-child relationships with either excessive adoration or excessive criticism that is poorly attuned to the child's experience
• Genetics ? inherited characteristics
• Neurobiology — the connection between the brain and behavior and thinking