We all know someone like this — they’re entitled and conceited, and they think that the world revolves around them. They don’t get that other people matter, and their actions affect others. In fact, it’s their way or the highway, and if someone stands up to them, they become irate and defensive. People who act like they’re better than everyone else most likely have a different upbringing than those who don’t. Here are several experiences they probably had in childhood.
1. They always got what they wanted.
People who act like they’re better than everyone else need to learn what it’s like not to get what they want. In fact, since birth, their parents have been spoiling them, ensuring they’re waited on hand and foot. When they were children, their parents made sure they got them their dream birthday and Christmas presents, no matter how outlandish or expensive they were. If they went out for the day, they always got an ice cream and more treats after dinner when they got home.
2. They never experienced rejection.
People who believe they’re in another category than everyone else most likely have never experienced real rejection. When they were younger, their parents made sure of this. If they were told they couldn’t be on the basketball team at school, their parents complained to the principal until they relented and made an exception. Their teacher made a special category in dance class to ensure they didn’t feel left out when someone else got dancer of the year.
3. They never experienced failure.
Failure is as much a part of life as anything else, and if we’re philosophical about it, failure can help us learn some of the most essential life lessons, like determination and grit. Failure is necessary to achieve and feel like we have earned our dreams. People who think they’re better than everyone else most likely have yet to experience failure. As a child, on top of never hearing the word “no” from their parents, their parents got involved whenever they got a bad grade, convincing the teacher to change it.
4. They never experienced humility.
Another experience that we all have in life, whether it’s in childhood or adulthood, is being humbled. Whether we’re reminded by a homeless person just how blessed we are or think we’re the best person for a promotion at work only to be bested by a colleague, humility can sting but keep us in check. People who think they’re better than others probably have yet to experience humility. Their parents cushioned the blows when something would go wrong at school or with friends so they wouldn’t have to feel like this.
5. They were never told the truth in love.
If someone believes they’re better than everyone else, they probably were never told the truth growing up. They might have been told bits of the truth, but at best, they were sugarcoated. For example, their parents told them that they had to find another babysitter because their previous one had to go away to college. They hid the truth, which was that the babysitter quit because she couldn’t handle how rude and badly behaved they were to her.
6. They never had their heart broken.
Growing up, people who think they’re better than everyone else ensured they never had to experience having their heart broken. Perhaps they had a crush on someone in middle school and finally got the courage to ask that person out. However, after a couple of months, they realized that this person wasn’t really into them anymore, so they quickly broke up with them before they could do it first. They’re always first to the punch to avoid being hurt.
7. Their parents were wealthy.
While this doesn’t apply to everyone who thinks they’re better than everyone else, it can be assumed for many. People like this most likely had parents growing up who had the financial means to give them everything they wanted and needed. Not only did they get spoiled on birthdays and Christmases, but their parents also took them on summer and winter vacations every year and sent them to the top private schools in the area.
8. Their parents did their homework for them.
Someone who genuinely believes that they’re a cut above the rest most likely had some help with their homework growing up. They’re not used to having to do everything for themselves, which is why they have a bit of a God complex. Whenever they found their homework hard, instead of their parents guiding them through it, they just handed it over and demanded that their parents complete it. This meant they never actually learned anything. As Forbes notes, that’s just one danger of this kind of helicopter parenting.
9. They were a fussy eater.
Growing up, someone who thinks they’re better than everyone else was most likely a fussy eater. They weren’t picky eaters because they were sensitive to taste or texture; they were fussy because their parents bent over backward to give them what they wanted every night. If they didn’t like the dinner Mom had made for the family that night, she would quickly fix something else and often give them a variety of different options to choose from.
10. Their parents fought their battles.
When it came to having friends growing up, people who thought they were better than everyone else always had their parents hovering in the background. If there were any disagreements in the friend group, their parents quickly jumped in and fought these battles for them. Their parents didn’t teach them the skills to work out disputes with friends productively and constructively; they simply resolved them on their behalf.
11. They were coddled.
Do you know someone whose mom made a huge deal whenever they scraped their knee or came off their bike? What are they like as an adult? There’s a good chance that they think they’re better than everyone else. You remember clearly that their mom flew to their rescue every time they hurt themselves, whether it was a prick of a needle or tripping down some stairs. She didn’t give them space to work through their emotions and learn to cope with life’s inevitable mishaps themselves.
12. Their parents bribed them.
If someone you know acts like they’re better than everyone else, their parents probably used bribery on them as a child. If they didn’t want to go to swimming lessons, their parents would be and plead, promising that they could get fast food on the way home. Or, if they didn’t want to tidy their room, their parents would promise their favorite pasta dish for dinner. Bribery was a common parenting tactic in their household.
13. They had helicopter parents.
If someone thinks they’re better than everyone else, there’s a good chance that their parents were never far away. Even when they hung out with friends or did an extracurricular activity, their parents were always on the sidelines, ready to step in. When they were young, their parents would follow them anxiously around the playground, helping them go down the slide and climb the ladder to the platform. They have yet to learn how to do anything on their own.
14. They were praised for every little thing.
Not only did people who thought they were better than everyone else never have to face disappointment as children, but they were also praised for every little thing they did. If they walked to school without veering off or getting too distracted, they were praised and given a reward, or if they sat at the dinner table when it was ready instead of having to be asked to, they were complimented and reminded of how good they were.
15. Their parents told them they were perfect.
If someone truly believes that they are God’s gift to humanity and a cut above everyone else, then their parents probably went on and on about how perfect and amazing they were as children. They would say things like, “Nobody knows how to do that like you do, sweetie—you’re better at that than anyone I know!” or “You are perfect in every way—and don’t ever let anybody say otherwise!”
