Did you think that only children can be spoiled? Nothing could be further from the truth … a spoiled child can become a spoiled adult, and dealing with these types of people can become a whole obstacle course. If you’ve ever encountered a spoiled child, you know that witnessing this type of behavior can be very frustrating. But when a child makes the transition from childhood to adulthood without regard for the needs of others, the situation becomes complicated.

When this happens it often turns into poor relationship patterns that continue throughout life, especially when no one has done anything about it. Dealing with a spoiled adult requires different levels of reinforcement through conversation and education. Simply fighting your own aggression will only make matters worse and justify the kind of behavior you are seeking to eradicate.

To deal with these types of people you will need a lot of communication skills and tons of patience. You may even wonder if it is really worth having that relationship with that type of person. Sometimes the spoiled adult may be a co-worker or boss and you need to know how to treat them so they don’t get fired. Maybe it’s your partner or a relative … in any case, there are times when it is better to know how to treat a spoiled adult so that you do not get overwhelmed when their presence is in front of you.

Next we are going to explain how to treat a spoiled adult so that in this way, if you have someone like that in your life, you can know how to communicate without ending up fighting over their arrogance.

Open communication levels

Keep communication levels open at all times, even when the situation becomes unbearable, give a spoiled adult the opportunity to express their opinions in a calm and rational way. Allow a cool-down time if there are strong displays of rude, abrupt, or potentially aggressive behavior before speaking.

Don’t answer negatively

Never respond negatively to spoiled behavior. Remember that some people use bratty behavior to evoke particular responses from their targets and make similar displays to you and it will only add to the problem. Use positive responses only to break the cycle of behavior and lay the groundwork for better communication.

Have empathy

Put yourself in the other adult’s shoes and consider their reasons behind an outburst of anger. Never tolerate spoiled behavior, but always try to identify the reasons behind what is happening.  Remember that the spoiled adult may have a valid point to make, but the conditioning of previous experiences prevents him from doing it in a controlled way.

Define the limits

Set clear boundaries and highlight the differences between acceptable and unacceptable behavior even when putting the theory into practice makes you feel uncomfortable. Be concise in how you expect others to communicate with you, and always be very clear that even the most frustrating situations are easier to deal with when people show mutual respect.

Don’t be condescending

Never be condescending to other adults, as this often makes you respond in a childish and immature way.  Take responsibility for being an adult during heated arguments by applying restraint and total control over your own actions. Always remember that by setting a mature example yourself, a spoiled adult has someone to learn from when it comes to controlling their own behavior. Be a role model, not part of the problem.

Use praise

Use praise as a tool when a spoiled adult deals with frustrating circumstances in a calm and responsible way, but be diplomatic in the way you communicate. Never humiliate other people by treating them like a child. Avoid focusing on aspects of bratty behavior and express your praise by acknowledging the validity of an opinion. Make it clear that you will fully consider your feelings or requirements.

Use forgiveness

Prepare to forgive outbursts. Show compassion and understanding to provide excellent examples of mature adult behavior and remember that the best way to solve any communication problem is to lead by example.