Am J Psychiatry 1978; 135:913-916
Copyright © 1978 by American Psychiatric Association
The poor rich: the children of the super-rich
RR Grinker
Because they have little parental contact, many children of the very rich
lack self-esteem and clear role models, resulting in shallow values and
pathological narcissism. Low self-awareness and the absence of great
suffering work against therapeutic progress, as do the efforts of the
parents, who may feel threatened, and countertransference feelings of envy
or anger by middle-class therapists. A supportive psychotherapeutic
relationship is the most likely means of developing trust and
self-discipline in these patients.
