The Rising Beyond Podcast

Ep 108: The Golden Child and The Scapegoat Child

Sybil Cummin, MA, LPC, ACS Season 1 Episode 108

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If you share more than one child with your narcissistic ex, then it is likely that you have seen your children treated differently.

Oftentimes a narcissistic parent creates a dynamic where one child is “the golden child” and another is “the scapegoat.”  The golden child is treated much differently than the other children, getting more attention and special treatment, whereas a scapegoated child will take the brunt of the blame and shame for anything that is going wrong or that the narcissistic parent doesn’t like.

But why does this dynamic persist and why is it so common?

And more importantly, what can you do as a protective parent to help your children as they manage the negative consequences of this dynamic?

In this episode we take a look at why this dynamic works for a narcissistic parent, the negative consequences for each child, and what you can do about it as a protective parent.


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