Community Corner

Wise Words: Perceptions of an Only Child

The popular image of an only child includes self-centered and spoiled, but does that truly hold up?

Mention that someone is an only child and many people will instantly associate them with the undesirable traits of self-centered and spoiled, even if they don’t say it. 

And intuitively, it doesn’t sound unreasonable. If you’ve never had to share your toys or clothes, compete for parental attention or negotiate with siblings, it doesn’t sound like such a huge leap.

But Phyllis Gordon, director of Southern’s Family Therapy Clinic, says that an overwhelming amount of research on only children does not support the stereotype. 

Read more of this excerpted blog post here to find out why that stereotype might not hold true. 

Keep up-to-date with all of the SCSU's Wise Words Blog posts here.

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