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.”
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.
A “golden child” is one who is considered “special” by their family and chosen as a proxy for a parent's own achievements and magnificence. Unfortunately, the child must live up to perhaps unattainable levels of accomplishment and perfection.
Being a golden child can have harmful effects later in life. For one, it often affects relationships in terms of connection and boundaries, Roberts says. "On the one hand, the grown-up golden child might become excessively attached to another person, not knowing where they begin and end.
Essentially, this means that the golden child is expected to be good at everything (even if those things don't come naturally to them), never make mistakes, and is always obliged to meet their parent's desires, even if they don't agree with them.
There's no reliable predictor as to who becomes the golden child within a family. It's often thought likely to be the privileged firstborn, but it may be the spoilt youngest. It may be one who excels in sports or academia and so brings attention and admiration to the family.
Golden Child Will Not Have the Scapegoat's Back
It's coercive loyalty. They were coerced into being loyal to the narcissist, yes, they were manipulated into this role to serve the needs of the narcissist and the two roles became enmeshed together, both supporting one another.
Some golden children might get too clingy in relationships. They may be poor at setting boundaries or rely too much on their partner's validation. This can push a partner away, creating a greater urge for validation. Another major drawback of golden child syndrome can be low self-esteem.
In the golden child's case, it appears that the narcissistic parent loves the child with abandon. But it's the kind of love that suffocates the child and annihilates their self-identity. The golden child stays “golden” as long as they play their role well.
Some Golden Children do become narcissists, while others do not. It depends on a number of factors, including how severely narcissistic the parent was, and whether the Golden Child received any emotional support from other family members or friends.
They have speculated that if narcissists received true feedback, they would change. The Carlson and colleagues' study suggests this is not the case: Narcissists are fully aware that they are narcissistic and that they have a narcissistic reputation.
While the golden child lives in what appears to be glory from their parents, the scapegoat deals with the exact opposite. The scapegoat of the family often suffers more overt types of emotional, and sometimes physical, abuse.
The first trilogy consists of Red Rising, Golden Son and Morning Star, published in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively. The second trilogy contains Iron Gold, published in 2017, and Dark Age, released in 2019, with the final book currently being written with no known publishing date.
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English somebody is goldenAmerican English spoken informal used to say that someone is in a very good situation and is likely to be successful If the right editor looks at your article, you're golden.
Background. The Golden Boy was conceived during the backdrop of World War I by British-born architect Frank Worthington Simon, who also designed the Manitoba Legislative Building that the figure would adorn.
Golden boy high level narcissists seek escape and pleasure to the extreme. When things get tough they run off, escape to their pleasure domes, go on buying sprees, have exciting affairs, spent lots of money on bling–jewelry, fine clothes, fancy trips and exotic treks, endless shopping sprees.
Children who grow up in families that are cold and depriving may also develop narcissistic personalities. Receiving inadequate validation and support can be painful and frustrating.
The Scapegoat Child: The Other End of The Spectrum
Conversely, for every golden child, there is also normally a scapegoat in the mix. This is the child who gets the brunt of the blame when bad things arise in a dysfunctional family. Essentially, the scapegoat role is to be the antithesis of the golden child.
The golden child may start acting up once the scapegoat goes no-contact. They may resent their sibling has “broken free” from the cycle of abuse. Golden children are under immense pressure to remain perfect- the scapegoat's absence only reinforces this pressure.
Glass children are siblings of a person with a disability. The word glass means people tend to see right through them and focus only on the person with the disability. “Glass” is also used because the children appear strong, but in reality are not. These children have needs that are not being met.
A family scapegoat is a person who takes on the role of 'black sheep' or 'problem child' in their family and gets shamed, blamed, and criticized for things that go wrong within the family unit, even when these things are entirely outside of their control.
The penalty for failure is criticism and disappointment from parents and other caregivers. And very often, the Golden Child interprets this as a withdrawal of love. Love therefore becomes conditional. The agreement is this: The child succeeds, and the parents in return bestow their love.
Like the strong goat Aaron selected, the target of family scapegoating is also often the strongest and healthiest member of the family.
Monopolizing conversations; demanding constant attention. Disrespecting boundaries; feeling entitled that they needn't comply with others' wishes. Betraying confidence. Launching “campaigns” against others: making themselves look perfect and their sibling look like the “crazy” one.