Social Science Journal for Advanced Research

Introduction

Narcissistic people, who have an exaggerated feeling of self-importance, a lack of empathy, and a desire for adulation, frequently engage in behaviours that destroy familial peace and emotional well-being. A narcissistic mindset and erroneous parenting have the potential to produce a chaotic and destructive environment for children in the complicated exercise of family relations. When these two forces collide inside a dysfunctional family, the ramifications can be severe and far-reaching, leaving an indelible impact on the emotional, psychological, and relational development of the children. This note dives into the disturbing ways in which a narcissistic disposition combined with poor parenting practices can lead to deeply negative outcomes for children, providing insights into the distressing path these young souls traverse.

In a narcissistic home, children frequently find themselves on the perimeter of attention and validation. The unrelenting attention of a narcissistic parent to their own needs and desires can leave little room for a child’s emotional nutrition. Neglect erodes their self-esteem, leaving them with feelings of inadequacy, unworthiness, and a warped self-image. As a result, these youngsters may find it difficult to form a strong sense of identity, repeating a cycle of self-doubt and inner turmoil.

A dysfunctional family characterized by narcissism and poor parenting creates an unstable basis for healthy emotional development. Children reared in such an environment usually lack adequate role models for emotional expression and management. This weakness can lead to difficulties recognizing and managing their own emotions, resulting in outbursts, retreats, or even suppression of feelings, with long-term consequences for their mental and emotional well-being.

Children raised in a narcissistic family frequently observe problematic communication habits and interpersonal interactions. The absence of true empathy and emotional attunement in their primary careers hinders the development of critical social skills such as active listening, conflict resolution, and cooperation. These impairments can impede their capacity to build meaningful relationships outside of the family, creating a cycle of isolation and loneliness. Children who grow up in an environment dominated by narcissism and poor parenting are more likely to acquire maladaptive coping strategies.

They may resort to people-pleasing behaviours in order to fill the emotional hole left by their parents. Alternatively, they could use defensive tactics such as withdrawal or even embrace narcissistic features as a method of survival, prolonging the dysfunctional cycle. As children raised in this poisonous environment grow into adults, the effects of their upbringing frequently remain. The dysfunctional family dynamics might impact their parenting approaches, perpetuating the dysfunctional cycle for future generations.

Pinjra was a Pakistani drama television series with 28 episodes. It was directed by Najaf Bilgrami and written by the late Pakistani screenwriter Asma Nabeel. Shazia Wajahat produced this series under the company Showcase Productions. It was scheduled to premiere on ARY Digital on October 6, 2022, with two episodes per week. The stars of this series were Haqiqa Kiani (Khadija), Omair Rana (Javed), Sunita Marshall (Wajiha), and Furqan Qureshi (Arsalan), with child actors Aashir Wajahat (Azaan), Ahmad Usman (Abaan), Ania Asif (Abeer), Emaan Khan (Dua), and Zuhab Khan (Fardaan).

‘Pinjra’ is centred on Khadija, a young woman caught in a loveless marriage, confined under the cultural constraints and expectations of traditional norms. The plot masterfully examines the complicated aspects of relationships, family ties, and the search for personal freedom. The story resonates with viewers because it depicts the struggle and tenacity of individuals seeking escape from societal oppression.Narcissistic Attitudes

The impact of narcissistic attitudes and inappropriate parenting practices in developing dysfunctional family dynamics and their consequent negative effects on children’s development is a critical topic. This study dives into the matter, with special emphasis on the Pakistani television series ‘Pinjra,’ which portrays these concerns in a heartbreaking manner. “Narcissistic attitudes,” defined by self-centeredness, a lack of empathy, and a persistent desire for adulation, can have a significant impact on family dynamics. When both parents display these characteristics, the family unit can become fertile ground for emotional manipulation, control, and disagreement. The Pakistani serial ‘Pinjra’ depicts this issue convincingly. Javed, the central character’s father, has narcissistic traits that cause him to prioritize his desires over his children’s well-being. This behaviour creates an emotionally charged environment and impedes the characters’ personal progress.

Parenting Style

Erroneous parenting practices, which are frequently the outcome of narcissistic attitudes, aggravate the condition. The impact of these practices is vividly depicted in ‘Pinjra.’ Javed’s parenting style oscillates between neglect and tyranny, leaving his children emotionally damaged and unable to face the world. The children’s inability to express themselves and their suppressed emotions reflect the real-life effects of dysfunctional parenting, particularly in a culture where traditional norms can affect parenting practices, not only in Pakistan but all over the world. The series emphasizes the dysfunctional loop that can result from narcissistic attitudes and poor parenting. The consequences are seen across generations, as evidenced by the characters’ difficulties in building healthy relationships and making appropriate life decisions. When unresolved concerns and maladaptive behaviours are handed down, the cycle continues. The portrayal of narcissistic attitudes and misdirected parenting in the Pakistani serial ‘Pinjra’ matches the real-life implications of these issues on the development of children inside dysfunctional homes.

In this family, every family member had the right to participate in every decision. It can be argued that people need to learn that strict parenting is not the only way to go. Having an open relationship with your kids is very important for raising well-behaved kids. The time has changed. Teach your kids to trust you so that they do not go behind your back and do stupid things.

Wajiha played a faithful friend role in this drama even after knowing that her husband did not like her. She tried to make her friend realize that she never tried to find out the reason behind the deepness in his younger son’s drawing. As a mother, she should interact with him in a friendly way. The ideology of Wajiha was totally different from her friend’s husband. Khadija always felt guilty over Javed’s behaviour in front of her friend still it did not affect the friendship of both women. Despite parenting, this drama also depicts the normal thinking of society, showing how the ‘thakaidar’ of our society, like Javed, thought about women struggling with a cruel world, despite how hard she tried to keep balance between both work and personal life. In our patriarchal society, it was difficult to understand the struggle of a single woman because everyone saw her with suspicious eyes.

Due to the narcissistic attitude of the father and the ideologies for becoming success only through performing well in studies, children of both families could not avail opportunities for participating in a musical concert even after the selection. The talent of these children remained visible. After recognizing the family issues, the elder son tried to discuss about all these matter with his mother but as always his mother supported her husband. She did not listen anything of her son.

It is a common phenomenon in our society that most people think that giving them shelter, a home, blankets, access to hygiene and cleanliness, food, water, clothing, and a luxury life is enough to show how much you love and care for the child. Luxury life means giving facilities to your children, but it is not enough to show that you love them. These things come after the relationship between a parent and a child and also provide fair options and trust towards the child so they can feel comfortable discussing their problems, whether they are wrong or right.

As parents, we need to make our children believe that we will support them in tough times, no matter what is happening. This is how healthy parenting relationships work. Being a fair parent prevents children from committing a big crime, and becoming your parents best friend helps the children get half their knowledge and education at home with their parents and learn new life skills. The story of this drama turned into an interesting point while the sister of this poor boy got into trouble for bullying a girl on her social media account, and no one had any idea about it, especially her parents. During this incident, the poor boy found a kid named Umer who was trash talking about Abir. This boy could not control his anger and fought with Umer. Accidentally, Umar had fallen from the school’s terrace and was sent to the hospital.

He did not analyze his ability, while it might be possible that this poor guy will do better in the future in the field in which he is interested. Comparison between siblings and the attitude of the narcissistic father ruined the life of his younger son. The judge gave permission to stay in jail only for one week, while this boy denied going home. During this period, one day he met with his brother in jail and got frustrated with him when he finally confronted all his emotions in front of his brother for the very first time. The toxic behaviour of his parents in comparing the two kids has created this hatred between the brothers, while his elder brother was very caring and humble for his younger brother. Still, he thought that his elder brother was his enemy; that was the only reason that he was always insulted by his father. Parents, please be very careful and mindful of your actions and words. It can make or break a person, and the consequences can be as bad as this story.

At the end of the story, one more time, Wajiha paid off her duties as she always did in the whole drama to make her friend realise that now was the time to sort out the misunderstanding between her and her husband. And finally, she went to her house with her children with pride. When Javed saw his family at the dining table, his feelings melted away, and now everything was fine.

On the other side of this story of Wajiha, a single mother spent all her life rearing her children in a very well-mannered and friendly environment. She played a very powerful role model character that had the correct balance of love and friendship but was also vocal enough to raise her concerns with her kids. Even she turned down Arsalan’s proposal because of her children. But at the end of the story, her children realized that this was the best proposal for her mother, as Arsalan was a very nice guy. So they decided to marry her mother with Arsalan.

Conclusion

How did the wrong parenting style lead to such disastrous turmoil in the lives of the kids in the house? It was amazing how people like Lady Principal, S.P. are basically good human beings, but the system they are in is so messed up that their hands are tied up in spite of good intentions. It was interesting to see how their roles evolved, and finally one day they gathered courage enough to be on the correct side and be a part of justice being served.

Father was also good at heart, but his lenses of the world were distorted so badly. The concept of male egoism made him rough towards his own family as well as women. Even the personality he grew as a narcissist father through the socialization process made him rude and self-centric. He was getting hurt, but unable to face the fact that he was behind all the miseries, he realized how, in his love for his family, he had caged them by overprotecting them. Parents should recognize your children’ talents and help them polish those talents instead of imposing study on everyone. Your child could be a good cricketer, a painter, an athlete, or a musician.