What do Narcissistic Fathers Do to Their Daughters?

Having a narcissistic father can be incredibly damaging for daughters, both in the short and long term. Narcissistic fathers tend to treat their daughters differently from their sons, often having higher expectations or being more critical of them. This type of parenting can have a lasting impact on the daughter’s self-esteem, relationships, and even career. Let’s take a closer look at what narcissistic fathers do to their daughters.

Characteristics of Narcissistic Fathers

Narcissistic fathers tend to be emotionally distant and controlling. They may criticize their daughter often, or they may not give her attention at all. They may also be demanding and expect perfection from their daughter in all areas of her life. Furthermore, narcissistic fathers will often use guilt or manipulation to get their way. They may even go so far as to try to control every aspect of their daughter’s life, including her relationships with others.

The following are the most common characteristics of narcissistic fathers –

Lack of Empathy. Narcissistic fathers often have difficulty recognizing or understanding the feelings and needs of others. This can lead to a lack of empathy and an inability to be emotionally supportive or responsive.

Gaslighting & Manipulation. Narcissistic fathers may use tactics such as gaslighting in order to control or belittle their children in order make themselves feel more powerful or important.

Self-Centeredness. Narcissistic fathers focus primarily on their own interests, desires, and reputation. In the process they totally neglect the feelings and well-being of their family members.

Unpredictability & Anger. A narcissistic father’s mood can swing wildly from one moment to the next. As a result their family lives in an atmosphere of unpredictability and fear within the home. It is not uncommon for this kind of emotional manipulation to escalate into episodes of physical violence as well.

Denial & Blame. Narcissistic fathers are often unwilling or unable to acknowledge wrong-doing or accept personal responsibility for their actions. Instead they point the finger at others when things don’t go as planned

How Narcissistic Fathers Treat Their Daughters Differently Than Their Sons

Studies have found that narcissistic fathers are more likely to be controlling toward their daughters than toward their sons. They may also expect their daughters to live up to unrealistic standards or put pressure on them to achieve perfection. As a result, daughters may struggle with feelings of low self-esteem or inadequacy when they don’t meet those expectations.

Narcissistic fathers may also be emotionally distant and unavailable, making it difficult for their daughters to feel seen and heard by them. This is particularly true if the mother is passive and unable to protect her daughter from her father’s criticism or control. In this case, the daughter will often feel isolated and unsupported by both parents.

What do narcissistic fathers do to their daughters – 10 Common Narcissistic Abuse Tactics Used By Fathers on Their Daughters

Gaslighting. Making a daughter doubt her own reality and experiences, manipulating her to think she is not trustworthy or competent.

Controlling. Restricting a daughter’s freedom and decisions in an effort to exert power over her.

Criticism. Disparaging comments about a daughter’s physical appearance, intelligence, accomplishments, or other qualities in order to undermine her self-esteem.

Emotional Withdrawal. Refusing to provide emotional support or affection when it is needed most, often resulting in feelings of worthlessness and despair.

Blame Shifting. Passing the fault for any problems onto the daughter while avoiding responsibility himself. This can lead to feelings of guilt and shame in the daughter that could last long after the situation has passed.

Isolation. Trying to keep the daughter away from people that could be of help or support by dictating who she can and cannot talk to, or where she is or isn’t allowed to go.

Guilt Trips. Using verbal manipulation tactics such as accusations or complaints that make it impossible for a daughter to disagree without feeling guilty for not doing what was asked of her (e.g., “If you loved me…”).

Unpredictability. Fluctuating between being overly kind one moment and overly angry the next so that a daughter never knows which version of him she is going to get at any given time – making it hard for her to trust him or feel secure in his presence.

Threats & Intimidation. Using fear tactics such as threats of physical violence, financial insecurity, abandonment, etc., all in an attempt to control the daughter’s behavior and decisions even into adulthood (e..g “Do what I say or else…”).

Manipulation. Telling stories, fabricating facts, omitting details strategically – all with the goal of getting what he wants without caring if it is right for his daughter in the long run (e..g “If you don’t do this then I won’t love you.”).

What do narcissistic fathers do to their daughters – Long-Term Impact of Growing Up With a Narcissistic Father

The impact of growing up with a narcissistic father can last well into adulthood. Daughters who had narcissistic fathers struggle with trust issues in relationships, believing that they have to prove themselves in order to earn love or acceptance from others. They may also find it difficult to set boundaries with people since they weren’t allowed to do so with their father as children.

In addition, these daughters may suffer from anxiety or depression due to feeling like they never quite measure up. This is because nothing they did was ever good enough for their father.

Furthermore, they might have trouble forming meaningful connections because they were taught that people only care about themselves—not about anyone else—and that relationships are transactional rather than emotional investments.

The Impact of Being Raised by a narcissistic father

Low Self-Esteem. Growing up in a household where you are constantly made to feel worthless, rejected or criticized can lead to feelings of self-doubt and insecurity.

Fear of Rejection. Having been conditioned to expect rejection at any given moment can make it difficult to build relationships outside the home and create a sense of trust and safety in others.

Poor Emotional Regulation. It can be difficult for a daughter who has experienced emotional abuse from her father to recognize and process her own emotions, leaving them unchecked and causing further issues down the line.

Dysfunctional Relationship Patterns. Repeated exposure to unhealthy habits during childhood may leave a daughter more prone to repeating the same behaviors with partners later in life, leading to unhealthy cycles that may be hard to break.

Anxiety & Depression. Long term exposure to emotional abuse can have serious psychological impacts such as increased levels of anxiety and depression, which affect both mental and physical health long into adulthood.

Disconnection from Self. Feeling like an outsider looking in on your own life due to the lack of validation offered by an abusive parent can leave a deep wound that takes time and effort to heal; finding ways to connect back with yourself is essential for recovery.

What a Daughter Raised by a Narcissistic Father Can Do To Heal

It can be difficult to heal from the effects of a narcissistic parental relationship, but it is possible. Here are five steps that a daughter raised by a narcissistic father can take to begin the healing process:

Practice Self-Care. It is important to re-establish trust with yourself and be kind to yourself. Taking the time for self-care even if it is just 10 minutes of uninterrupted “me” time can make a huge difference in your recovery.

Seek Professional Help. While support from friends and family is helpful, speaking with a qualified mental health professional may provide more tailored advice that can help you make sense of the situation and work through difficult emotions.

Reach Out For Support. It can be hard to open up about your experiences, but having a safe space where you can talk about your feelings without judgment or criticism can be invaluable for healing. Consider joining an online support group or volunteering with an organization devoted to helping those affected by narcissistic abuse.

Develop Healthy Boundaries. Understanding what boundaries are necessary to protect your emotional wellbeing and learning how to set them is essential in order to break free from cycles of abuse.

Acceptance & Forgiveness. Working towards accepting the past and forgiving both yourself and the abuser will help reduce feelings of guilt, anger, resentment and fear that often accompany abuse survivors into adulthood – allowing for healing on all levels (physical, mental, emotional).

Conclusion

Having a narcissistic father can be very damaging for daughters in terms of both short-term and long-term effects on their emotional wellbeing and sense of self-worth. From unrealistic expectations and emotional distance to feelings of inadequacy and lack of trust in relationships later on in life, the consequences can be devastating.

With therapy and support from loved ones, it is possible for daughters who grew up with narcissistic fathers to learn how to build healthier relationships and gain back some control over their own lives once again.