15 Traits You Might Have if You Were Overpraised as a Kid
Overpraising children might seem like a good idea at first. After all, who doesn’t want to encourage their child's self-esteem and confidence?
However, when praise becomes excessive or unbalanced, it can create a sense of entitlement, unrealistic self-importance, and difficulty handling failure. These adults may face a unique set of challenges, from fragile egos to an inflated sense of worth.
Over time, the consequences of overpraising can significantly impact how individuals navigate relationships, careers, and their own self-worth.
Inflated Sense of Entitlement
Adults who were overpraised often feel entitled to special treatment. When children are constantly showered with praise, they may come to expect admiration and rewards for every little achievement.
As adults, this sense of entitlement can be problematic. They might feel they deserve promotions, privileges, or attention without earning it.
This mindset can lead to frustration and disappointment when they don’t receive the praise or perks they believe they’re owed, impacting their professional and personal relationships.
Difficulty Accepting Criticism
An inability to handle constructive feedback can be a result of overpraise. Children who are overpraised rarely encounter criticism, making them more likely to struggle with it as adults.
They may perceive feedback, even if it’s constructive, as a personal attack. This inability to accept critique can hinder their personal growth and prevent them from improving or learning from their mistakes.
In relationships, it can also make it difficult to resolve conflicts effectively.
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Fragile Self-Esteem
A lack of resilience to failure often leads to low self-worth. Overpraised kids are often praised for their potential rather than their actual achievements.
This can create an illusion of invulnerability. As adults, when they face inevitable failures or setbacks, they may struggle to cope because they’ve never been taught how to handle challenges.
Their self-esteem, built on a shaky foundation, can easily crumble when faced with criticism or failure.
Overreliance on External Validation
Adults who were overpraised may constantly seek external approval. Constant praise as a child can teach someone that their worth is determined by how others view them.
In adulthood, this can manifest as an overwhelming need for external validation. They may depend on compliments, awards, or recognition from others to feel good about themselves.
Without it, they may feel empty or unaccomplished, even if they have achieved great things on their own.
Fear of Failure
The pressure to maintain perfection leads to a crippling fear of failure. When children are constantly praised, they are often under immense pressure to maintain that level of praise.
This can lead to a fear of failure that lingers into adulthood. As they grow older, they may avoid taking risks or trying new things because they are afraid of falling short of the unrealistic standards they’ve set for themselves.
This fear can paralyze them from pursuing new opportunities and reaching their full potential.
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Difficulty Developing Self-Motivation
Overpraised kids may struggle to find intrinsic motivation. Overpraised children often grow accustomed to working for rewards, recognition, or praise.
As they grow older, they may lack the internal drive to succeed without external incentives. They may rely on others to tell them how well they’re doing rather than developing a strong sense of personal motivation.
This can affect their career development and ability to work independently in the future.
Sense of Superiority
Overpraised kids may develop a superiority complex. With constant praise, children might come to believe that they are superior to their peers.
As adults, this can translate into an inflated sense of self-worth. They may look down on others or believe they deserve better treatment than everyone else.
This sense of superiority can make it difficult for them to relate to others, form genuine connections, or empathize with people from different backgrounds.
Struggle with Empathy
Overpraised individuals may lack the ability to empathize with others. Children who are overpraised may not fully understand the value of humility or struggle to see the challenges faced by others.
This can lead to a lack of empathy as they grow up. They may prioritize their own feelings and success over others' needs, leading to strained relationships and difficulties in both personal and professional environments.
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Difficulty Handling Criticism of Others
When overpraised individuals encounter criticism of those they care about, they might overreact. Having grown up with a high sense of self-worth, adults who were overpraised may find it difficult to deal with criticism of those they love.
They may feel defensive or protective, and even react aggressively when others face critique. This can lead to conflicts in relationships and a tendency to “defend” loved ones who may also need constructive feedback.
Inability to Self-Assess
Overpraised individuals may struggle with honest self-reflection. When praise is constant, it becomes challenging to evaluate one’s own actions objectively.
Overpraised children may grow up with an unrealistic sense of their abilities. In adulthood, this can result in an inability to self-assess accurately, leading to a lack of growth or awareness of personal flaws.
Without the ability to be self-critical, they might miss opportunities to improve or adjust behaviors.
Perfectionism
A desire to be perfect can take root in overpraised children. Because overpraised children are often lauded for their successes, they may develop a perfectionist mindset, believing that only flawless performance will earn them approval.
As adults, this can lead to unrealistic expectations of themselves, creating stress, burnout, and dissatisfaction when they inevitably fall short of their high standards. Perfectionism can also hinder creativity, as they might be reluctant to take risks or try new things.
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Overconfidence in Skills
Overpraised kids may assume they excel at everything they try. Overpraised individuals often develop an overconfidence in their skills.
Growing up, they may have been told they were excellent at everything, regardless of actual performance. As adults, this can lead them to take on projects or tasks that exceed their capabilities, which may result in failure or frustration.
Their overconfidence can prevent them from asking for help or acknowledging when they need to improve.
Trouble Coping with Setbacks
Failure can feel devastating when it’s unfamiliar. When adults who were overpraised face setbacks or challenges, they may react much more intensely than those who grew up learning to navigate disappointment.
Since they were rarely exposed to constructive criticism or failure as children, they struggle with resilience when life doesn’t go as planned. This emotional fragility can impact their overall well-being and their ability to recover from setbacks.
Seeking Constant Validation
The need for constant praise becomes ingrained. Adults who were overpraised as children may seek validation from others throughout their lives.
Whether in their careers, relationships, or social circles, they may rely heavily on external affirmation to feel secure and valued. Without it, they might feel inadequate or unsure of their worth.
This dependency on validation can lead to a fragile self-image and constant anxiety.
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Inability to Handle Boredom
Overpraised children may struggle with boredom. When praise is frequently handed out, children may develop a constant need for stimulation or excitement.
As adults, they might have difficulty handling mundane or monotonous tasks. This can lead to a short attention span, avoidance of repetitive tasks, and a constant search for the next big thing that will make them feel validated or important.
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