What is Emperor Syndrome? (Child Tyrant)

Table of Contents

Last Updated on January 12, 2023 by Mike Robinson

The syndrome of the emperor or the tyrant child is a behavior disorder where the son is the one who dominates his parents, and through shouting, anger, and tantrums, he always does his will.

You do not know what to do. Your son is very demanding; he screams, has tantrums, exhausts your patience, and you yield to his demands.

Little Emperor Syndrome

Be careful; it may be a case of this phenomenon. These are children or adolescents with strong character whose parents probably have not been able to place healthy limits on their behavior.

The good news is you can do a lot about it; this syndrome can be reversed, although depending on the case, it will require more or less work and patience.

Knowing this syndrome and how to raise your child is critical because you will give a sound foundation and maintain a healthy environment in your home.

Characteristics of the Emperor’s Syndrome

These children or adolescents generally seem insensitive emotionally, have little empathy, sense of responsibility, no guilt for their attitudes, and lack of attachment to their parents.

Emperor syndrome, also known as “little emperor syndrome” or “tyrant child,” is a behavior disorder where the child is the one who dominates his parents through shouting, anger, and tantrums.

The child is very demanding; he screams, throws tantrums, and wears out the parent’s patience. Therefore, parents cave into their child’s demands.

Emperor syndrome

If you have a child that exhibits this behavior, be careful; it may be a case of this phenomenon. These are strong-willed children or adolescents whose parents probably have been unable to place healthy limits on their behavior.

The good news is that you can take action to reverse this syndrome, though it may take significant effort and persistence, depending on the circumstances.

Understanding this syndrome and how to reinforce your child’s behavior and maintain a peaceful home life is essential.

Characteristics of the Emperor’s Syndrome

These kids or teenagers generally exhibit emotional insensitivity, a lack of empathy, or responsibility. Also, they have no guilt over their actions and a lack of attachment to their parents.

In general, the parents bear most of the blame for their behavior. Parents who are overly permissive and protective of their children are unable to rein them in or limit their behavior.

However, it is also true that this syndrome is made more prevalent by the traits of modern society. The expectation that desires should be satisfied instantly and without effort is common among youth.

Statistics of the Emperor’s Syndrome

The modern family has undergone significant change. Women typically give birth to their children later, marriages end, parents quickly find new partners, and there are a lot of single-parent children.

Parents try to protect their children from harm by giving them as much as they ask for in material possessions. They do so without reservation, even if these requests are unreasonable.

Nowadays, many parents are reluctant to set boundaries for their kids’ behavior, fearing this will hurt their feelings. But in reality, these actions have the opposite effect.

Parents must set boundaries for their children because they lack the maturity to make such decisions on their own. Children need discipline; they need boundaries so that they feel safe and secure.

Characteristics of the tyrant child

A child whose behavior hasn’t been restrained or managed by his parents may grow into a tyrant. These kids constantly attempt to impose their will, and if they are unsuccessful at first, they become hostile. They are unable to control their anger and sometimes act out in public, making life for the family a constant struggle.

The parents give up in an effort to make peace. To avoid conflict with their kids, parents give them whatever they ask for.
Over time, the spoiled child becomes the king of the family and acts like a tyrant over the family. In some instances, parents fear their kids. The worst cases involve teenagers who physically and verbally abuse their parents.

These are the main characteristics of emperor’s syndrome:

They have wild exaggerations of what they think they deserve.
Tendencies to become easily bored Frustration follows when the child asks for things to relieve their boredom and the parent does not comply.
If the parents say no, they express anger with fits of rage, screams, and insults.
They are unable to solve problems or face negative experiences.
They believe they are the center of the world and are selfish individuals.
To justify their behavior, they convince themselves that others are to blame for everything that makes them unhappy.
Shows a lack of empathy; they don’t care how their behavior makes others feel.
They always ask for more. They never have enough.
Never feels guilt or remorse about their attitude or behavior.
The child discusses the norms parents try to establish and considers them unjust. Whether it is tiredness, annoyance, or guilt, parents give in to their child’s claims.
Difficulties adapting to the demands of situations outside the home. Especially at school, since they don’t respond well to authority figures or social structures.
They often feel angry, sad, and have low self-esteem.

What the parents of a tyrant child should do

It’s time to take action if you believe your child’s situation has reached a breaking point. Additionally, you need to alter your perspective before things worsen if your child’s tyrannical behavior is not yet extreme, but you are concerned.

The parent must act to put an end to their child’s excessive demands. If the child’s wishes are not granted after a tantrum, their demands and tantrums will eventually cease.

Consider the following advice:

First, agree with your spouse on how to educate and handle tyrannical children.
You must both maintain your positions. Use reverse psychology to your advantage if the child thinks you disagree or aren’t sure.
Set clear guidelines. Meals, homework, and bedtime will follow a schedule.
It’s good that the child has age-appropriate home duties. Toy storage, bedmaking, table setting, etc.
If your child breaks the rules, you should immediately implement “punishment” or “time out” as a parent.
Expect tantrums. Breathe and wait. Children can ask for something thousands of times to convince you. Don’t cave.
No spanking. You shouldn’t get mad at your child’s tantrums because violence never works.
Don’t debate this with your child. The tyrant child won’t listen. Explain why you said no or set a rule once, not 100 times. “I have already told you about this subject, and I will not do it again,” you can say if they persist.
Reward good behavior in children. Positive reinforcement is the key to changing attitudes.

If you try to apply these measures but do not get the results you want, it’s time to seek professional help.

The first step is to see a physician to rule out any physical conditions. In order to resolve this situation, you and your child will need to engage in some sort of psychological therapy.

And in some cases, it will not hurt to consult a psychiatrist to rule out depression or other disorders that may be affecting the child or one of their parents.

Emperor’s syndrome in adolescents

If the problem is not solved, when your child is between 11 and 17 years old, he will have become the real head of the family.

In the most extreme cases, these teens verbally and physically mistreat their parents, threaten them, and even steal from them.

This type of violence is not new, but in recent years there has been a significant increase in the number of cases.

According to the data provided, since 2000, allegations of violent behavior by children toward their parents have increased six-fold.

Also read: What is Childhood Disintegrative Disorder?

And this could be just the tip of the iceberg because most parents do not denounce their children and hide the problem to protect them.

In a study conducted in the United States, children showed aggressive behavior toward their parents in between 7% and 18% of traditional families. This figure rises to 29% in single-parent families. That is why it is so important to prevent the emperor’s syndrome.

Some experts believe the problem is not only a matter of parental attitudes. Children likely inherit these aggressive behaviors toward their parents.

However, being overly lenient and overly protective of your children will harm them in any case. When they get older, they’ll be careless and susceptible to peer pressure; they might even commit minor crimes.

Surely you do not want this to happen to any of your children. So if you think that the emperor’s syndrome is slowly settling in your home, you should start taking action immediately.

And if you want to prevent such situations, please read the next section of this article.

How to Prevent Emperor Syndrome

Children should learn to tolerate frustration. This will be very useful for their adult lives. Many times they will not be able to get what they want and must learn to accept frustration.

Obviously, a baby’s needs should be met immediately. But as they get older, all children need their parents to set clear rules and limits for their behavior.

Children always try to test certain boundaries. Parents should be firm in their stance and not compromise on important rules.

Children of two or three years old often have tantrums to see if they can get their parents to give in. Parents should show patience without giving in. Understand that your child will not be traumatized when you set boundaries and guidelines.

Parents must exercise their authority with affection and be consistent. Parents’ responses should be the same no matter where or when. Then there will be no tyrannical children at home.

However, the emperor’s syndrome may manifest if parents give in to tantrums and refuse to impose even minimal forms of discipline.

Remember, it’s possible to control this behavior using “time out” (formerly called punishment or being grounded) and a rewards system when the child has positive attitudes and behaviors.