How does a Narcissist come to be?

I seriously doubt there is a genetic abnormality that leads to selfishness. And science has yet to prove that, either. It seems that it is their environment, from an early age, that makes a narcissist.

It is amazing to think that a man of 52 has finally shown his true colors to his family. I mean, how could he live a double life for so long? He was cunning enough to hide his many sexual affairs, but he isn't even very smart!

It is my theory that his father is also a narcissist. If my dad is a narcissist, then his dad definitely is one. His father was a "laboring brethren" for the Plymouth Brethern 'church.' I use the term 'church' loosely because there are no official clergy, outreach programs, love and support for one another, or anything that a church needs to function. Needless to say, it is a dysfunctional church- it's a cult.

A "laboring brethren" is their unofficial clergy. He has the respect of the members, a paycheck, and power. This suited the narcissist mindset well, as he got his ego stroked. Whenever a sermon was delivered by a male member of the church (they took turns), they had to watch to make sure that he agreed with them, or he would correct them in the middle of the service.

He travelled from church to church, all of them praising his wonderfulness and his Biblical soundness and his intelligence and his perfectness. My father grew up observing this, and as he was named after his father (yup he is Jr.) it was expected that my father would follow in his footsteps, and he was given undue praise and exhultation for being the "son of the laboring brethren" (oohs and aahs).

Homelife had to have sucked. He had 3 elder sisters, 2 younger brothers, and a father that was a man-child. His mom was kept busy worshiping her husband, and any extra time was divided between the 6 children. My dad didn't get a whole lot of love or attention, and neither did his siblings, except for the youngest boy that was born over 10 years after the others. Love's currency was praise, whether earned or not.

So, he grew up with this notion that he was important and special, and that these people received praise, which is love. It is amazing that his other 5 siblings are as normal as they are... oh wait, no they aren't.

1) Eldest sister was caught with birth control as a teen, forced into marriage.
2) Next sister became pregnant as a teen, forced into marriage. <- Divorced only a few years ago, dating a man she truly loves
3) Next sister married rich and lives a life of materialism and self-centerdness. <- Recently returned to church, though not the Plymouth Bretheren. Somehow she's the most loving of the siblings.
4) Younger brother recovered drug addict
5) Youngest brother turned atheist, having the intelligence to recognize the Plymouth Bretheren as cult, but later became Episcopalian. He is the most normal because his siblings were mostly grown when he was born and he was able to receive more attention from mom.

Yes, so not all is as wonderful as it seems. They each had their problems, either directly or indirectly from their parents.