‘Part of Being Human’

While entitlement has taken on negative connotations over the years, it’s important to realize feelings of entitlement in children are normal and cross all socioeconomic bounds.

“Entitlement is part of being human, and I really want to emphasize that it’s normal for development,” says Keefe.

“Every child goes through it before their teens, and then you have teenagers who are self-absorbed, and that’s OK, too. It’s how they find their footing. Parents need to stay calm and listen to their [child’s] side of things, even though what they’re saying may sound horribly self-absorbed.”

While Keefe says there’s a sense of entitlement one gets by earning what they want, there’s also a false sense of entitlement that’s felt by those who believe they are deserving and feel they don’t have to work for what they want. These are the kids, Deerwester writes in her book, who are “blind to other people’s needs and interests. And they live in carefully constructed lives that limit their potential.”

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