Entitlement - Grandiosity Schema

Do you often feel superior to others? That you are entitled to special privileges and rights? Or perhaps you don’t like the word ‘no’ and struggle to admit when you’re wrong? If you typically answer these questions with a resounding ‘yes,’ you may have the entitlement/grandiosity schema.

To help answer any questions you may have regarding this schema, this article will cover the following topics:

What the entitlement schema is
A description of early maladaptive schemas
The causes of the entitlement schema
Signs of the entitlement schema in childhood and adulthood
How the entitlement schema affect a person’s life
Treatment methods for the entitlement schema

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What Is the Entitlement/ Grandiosity Schema?

The entitlement (or ‘grandiosity’) schema is an early maladaptive schema that can be subdivided into three categories:

Fragile, narcissistic entitlement
overcompensation for weaknesses, often relating to narcissism.

Pure entitlement
manifests in children who weren’t shown clear boundaries, were over-indulged, or spoiled.

Dependent entitlement
a belief that others should care for them due to their superiority.

People with the entitlement schema often don’t believe rules apply to them. As a result, they often come across as selfish, opinionated, and highly competitive.

Maladaptive Schemas

‘Schemas’ refer to the beliefs we develop over our lifetimes based on memories, cognitions, and bodily sensations from early experiences – particularly those with our primary caregivers.

Schemas are powerful – they inform how we see ourselves and others, and our beliefs about how the world works. If our early attachment relationships are insecure, we may develop unhealthy, inaccurate beliefs called ‘early maladaptive schemas’ (EMS).

The entitlement schema is one of 18 early maladaptive schemas we may develop.

What Causes the Entitlement/ Grandiosity Schema?

Like any maladaptive schema, the entitlement schema develops when our core emotional needs aren’t met in childhood. These needs could be left unmet through indulgent caregiving, where the caregiver readily instills the message ‘I am special’ into the child without setting necessary limits to stop an over-inflation of this belief to ‘I am better than others.’

The entitlement schema also shares a close link with the emotional deprivation schema, when caregivers repeatedly misattune to their child’s needs, resulting in the child developing a negative sense of self. In such cases, the entitlement schema may develop to act as a buffer against these negative self-perceptions and protect the child against emotional deprivation, transforming the ‘I don’t matter’ belief into ‘I’m all that matters.’

Signs of the Entitlement/ Grandiosity Schema

Someone with the entitlement schema may consider themselves superior to others. This belief might cause them to display selfish, superior behaviors, such as:

Always putting themselves first
Thinking they should be allowed to do what they want at all times
Disregarding authoritative figures, rules, and regulations.

An entitlement schema can also make it difficult to receive instructions or the word ‘no’ from others, as individuals with this schema type generally prefer to be in control. It often feels unbearable for someone with the entitlement schema to admit they’re wrong.

Entitlement/ Grandiosity in Childhood

Children with the entitlement schema tend to believe they are a priority and, therefore, should always get what they want. They may cheat on a test, cut in line, or steal a toy from another child, with little remorse for their actions.

An entitled child is usually also fiercely competitive, changing the rules of a game/task to ensure they win every time. Clearly, such actions/attitudes could harm peer relationships.

Entitlement/ Grandiosity in Adulthood

In adulthood, the entitlement schema may manifest as a greater-than-average ability to make friends but not maintain them. Breakdowns in friendships may often occur because individuals with this schema consistently place their wants and needs above those of others’.

Moreover, adults with the entitlement schema may present as extraverted, assertive, and possessing high self-esteem. Characteristics such as these might be beneficial in certain workplaces where competition and performance are important. However, the peers, friends, and loved ones of someone with this schema may see them as overconfident, arrogant, and hostile.

Entitlement/ Grandiosity Schema Test

If you think you may have the entitlement schema and want to find out, take our free test. It will provide you with a rating of how highly you score on all the 18 maladaptive schemas, including entitlement.

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How People Cope With the Entitlement/
Grandiosity Schema

Often, someone with the entitlement schema will act in maladaptive ways to cope with their negative beliefs about themself, the world, and others. These maladaptive methods of coping usually come in the form of avoidance, overcompensation, or surrendering.

Avoidance

Avoidance is particularly common in those with the fragile entitlement schema, as they tend to hide from feelings of shame, vulnerability, and the belief that they’re not good enough. People with this schema may also display controlling, manipulative behaviors to avoid abandonment in close relationships.

Someone with the entitlement schema typically avoids situations where their schema is triggered. For example, when directions from an authoritative figure (like a manager or caregiver) go against their wants.

Overcompensation

On the other hand, someone with the entitlement schema may overcompensate for feelings of inferiority, insecurity, and inadequacy by acting over-confident and superior to others. For example, they may overcompensate for a fear of failure by changing the rules of a game or cheating to win.

People with the entitlement schema often minimize their negative feelings, telling themselves that their selfish behaviors are “acceptable.”

Surrendering

Some people with the entitlement schema will surrender to their beliefs of superiority, convincing themselves that they are better than everyone else and, therefore, deserve whatever they want. Someone who completely gives into these beliefs will likely do whatever it takes to meet their desires, regardless of how many people they hurt along the way.

Entitlement/ Grandiosity Treatment

Early maladaptive schemas are deeply embedded in our psyche, making them challenging to alter. However, with self-reflection, understanding, and work, it is possible to change the entitlement schema – but it may require the help and guidance of a mental health professional. Schema Therapy is a leading treatment option for people with the entitlement schema. You can find out more about Schema Therapy here.

Alternative treatment methods include improving your self-awareness through journaling and mindfulness meditations. If the entitlement/grandiosity schema is affecting your day-to-day actions and quality of life, seeking guidance from a medical professional is another option.

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Amadi, S. C. (2015). Narcissism and Late Adolescent Friendships: Perceived Closeness,
Cooperation, Competitiveness, and Friendship Quality. The University of Southern Mississippi. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

Doctor Library (n.d.). The domains of impaired limits – the core emotional need for reasonable limits – good enough parenting. Retrieved 20 October 2022.

Seltzer, L. F. (2020, October 14). Narcissists: Masters of Overcompensation. Psychology Today. Retrieved 20 October 2022.