Childhood / Infantile Omnipotence

Childhood or developmentalomnipotence is a theory—developed separately by prominent psychoanalysts Otto Fenichel and Edmund Bergler—that a child’s initial belief in their ability to influence the world stems from their needs being satisfied and their lack of understanding of external limitations. This feeling is normal in early childhood but if it persists or is exaggerated can contribute to narcissistic traits or personality disorders (PD). The theory also suggests when early childhood experiences are marked by trauma, neglect, or a lack of empathy, this normal infantile omnipotence may not be adequately relinquished. Individuals may then develop narcissistic defenses to protect a fragile sense of self, believing in their own specialness and power as a way to cope with unmet needs and emotional pain. Also see Narcissistic Injury andNarcissistic Rage: Stages:

• Infantile omnipotence is the infant’s belief they’re the cause of whatever happens as they can’t differentiate self from the external world. Bergler saw the narcissist’s need for admiration and lack of empathy as rooted in a struggle to reconcile this omnipotence with reality and its limitations.
• Childhood omnipotence and ego ideal: The child’s developing self over estimates their power and influence, but recognizes their actions are separate from others’ and their power has limits. Fenichel saw this as core to the primitive ego structure and key to understanding narcissistic defenses.
• Developmental shift: Growing children have a more realistic understanding of the world, recognizing their desires may not always be fulfilled and others have their own needs and perspectives.
• Distinguishing omnipotence from grandiosity: A difference between child omnipotence and the more complex emotional experience of narcissism, while both involve a sense of superiority, is that grandiosity is a defense against feelings of inadequacy and insecurity.
• Implications for therapy: Understanding infantile omnipotence is crucial for psychoanalytic therapy with narcissistic individuals, to guide the individual to gradually relinquish these defenses and develop a more realistic sense of self, one that is not dependent on maintaining a fantasy of omnipotence.