Spoiled brat

A spoiled child (also known as a spoiled/spoilt brat) is a child that has been spoiled by his or her parents. There is no accepted medical definition of what "spoiled" means, and it is not a formal medical term (although spoiled child syndrome is recognized and accepted). However, it is widely understood amongst lay people to encompass behaviours that include self-centredness and lack of consideration for other people.

Contrasting views of psychologists and laypeople
There is no accepted medical definition of what "spoiled" means, partly because the word is derogatory. Psychologists will instead describe such children as "overindulged", "grandiose", "narcissistic", and even "egocentric-regressed". However, lay people generally agree on the adjective "spoiled" and what it means. Michele Borba, psychologist and author, opines that "the plain, old-fashioned, term fits just fine".

Medicine does, however, recognize the "spoiled child syndrome", first defined by McIntosh (see ). This syndrome is characterized by "excessive, self-centered, and immature behavior". It includes lack of consideration for other people, recurrent temper tantrums, an inability to handle delayed gratification, demands for having one's own way, obstructiveness, and manipulation. McIntosh attributed it to "the failure of parents to enforce consistent, age-appropriate limits", but others, such as Aylward, note that temperament is very probably a contributory factor.
*Parents shielding the child from normal everyday frustrations
Consequences for later life
Spoiling in infancy and early childhood tends to create characteristic reactions that persist, fixed, into later life. These can cause significant social problems. Spoiled children may have difficulty coping with situations such as teachers refusing to grant extensions on homework assigments, playmates refusing to allow them to play with their toys, and girlfriends or boyfriends refusing to engage in sexual activity. As adults, spoiled children may experience problems with anger management, professionalism, and personal relationships.

Main Menu

See Also

Main Menu