A study led by psychologist Mitja Back from the University of Münster, Germany, has revealed that narcissism may be determined more by genes than its environment. The researchers examined the life experiences, personality characteristics and genetics of over 1,300 sets of twins and found that parents and children’s narcissism scores were correlated, but this association was entirely genetically driven. This discovery contradicts traditional psychoanalytical arguments that claim that narcissicism is the product of a cold parent who heaps their child with both praise and criticism in equal amounts. The study suggests that understanding the nuances of narcissism will be crucial for effective measures in dealing with narcissistic individuals.