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You may have heard that the oldest child is authoritarian, the middle child is rebellious, and the youngest child still succeeds, but it probably goes without saying that they are all stereotypes and simplifications outside. There are also stereotypes on children only. According to the theory of "children's syndrome only", not having brothers and sisters may make someone more likely to develop certain characteristics.

Admittedly, the number of brothers and sisters that someone has - or his absence - can shape his personality, but to what extent? And what is the only children's syndrome, and is there validity to this notion? We have exploited approved therapists - and have examined relevant research - to discover it.

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What is the only children's syndrome?

According to Kristie TSE , LMHC, psychotherapist and founder of Discover mental health advice , only child syndrome refers to the idea that only children tend to have a certain set of negative features, such as selfishness or stubbornness. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

This theory dates back to 1896 when the child's American psychologist G. Stanley Hall published the results of a national investigation which he conducted. According to his conclusions, only children had a long list of common traits in common - by doing so to go so far as to say that being a only child was a "disease" in itself. Needless to say, his work is now considered controversial.

Over the past 50 years, children's psychology experts have challenged and demystified numerous Hall conclusions.

Common characteristics among children only

According to approved therapists, there are traits only only.

1. Independence

Experts say that a only child is naturally more inclined to become independent - after all, they do not have brothers and sisters with whom to go out, learn or ask for help.

Consequently, they learn to assume responsibilities independently, explains Catherine Nobile , PsyD, clinical psychologist and director of Nobile psychology .

"As a single child myself, I can attest to the depth of introspection and independence which often develops without brothers and sisters," adds TSE. "My personal experience also shaped my empathy and my understanding in my therapeutic practice."

2. Creativity

Since only children do not have brothers and sisters with whom they play, they are forced to have fun.

Consequently, only children are often very creative and have a rich imagination, says Natalie Rosado , LMHC, a mental health expert At Sanity & Self Autosoin application for women.

"In addition, only children can develop solid skills in problem solving and a solid feeling of self -discipline," adds Nobile.

3. Maturity

Without brothers and sisters, only children tend to spend much more time with adults.

"This can lead them to develop a greater level of maturity," explains Kanchi Wijsekera , A approved clinical psychologist and founder / clinical director at Milika Center for Therapy and Resilience.

According to Rosado, communicating so much with adults rather than peers can also lead to strong verbal skills, as well as a strong link with their parents.

However, there can be a negative side.

"Only children can become too dependent on their parents for emotional support, which leads to difficulties in establishing independent peers' relationships," said Nobile.

4. Difficulty sharing

Given that only children do not have to share toys and other personal effects, the space of the room and the attention of their parents, they may have more trouble sharing, explains Nobile.

This can create challenges, such as during the game with friends or later when they finally have roommates at university.

"Socially, they could find it difficult to develop teamwork skills, having had fewer opportunities to navigate the dynamics of the brothers and sisters," added Nobile.

5.

Competitiveness can sometimes prepare families with more than one child - hence the term "rivalry of the brothers". But only children have no brothers and sisters to compete with growth and can therefore develop a higher level of self-assurance.

"Parents' attention and encouragement can strengthen the confidence and self -esteem of a only child," said Rosado. "They can feel more assured in their abilities and comfortable in leadership roles."

Rosado notes that being a only child can also lead to greater self -awareness. "They spend more time alone, which can lead to an in-depth understanding of their interests, their strengths and their weaknesses," she explains.

6. Perfectionism and sensitivity to criticism

Many only children are ambitious and pushed to excel, explains TSE. For what? Because they have more attention and parental support - and as there are no other children on which to concentrate, they can feel a greater feeling of pressure to succeed.

In fact, Nobile and Rosado say that only children are sometimes leaning towards perfectionism and can be more sensitive to criticism due to the high expectations of their parents.

Keep in mind, said approved holistic psychologist Scott Lyons , just because someone does not have a younger sister or a older brother, it is guaranteed to have these characteristics. There are so many other factors in the education of a person who can go into play in the development of his personality - for example, how much quality time his parents spend with them, how they are disciplined and the dynamic dynamics global.

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What does research on children's syndrome say only?

A 2019 study More than 20,500 adults have refuted the idea that being a one -child considerably affects personality. The researchers discovered that there are not really some major Personality differences between people who grew up with the brothers and sisters and those without. Only children were slightly More likely to show signs of neuroticism, for example, but they were also more likely to have higher opening levels.

Due to the unique Chinese policy - which limited most families to a single child between 1980 and 2015 - there was a richness of research on the impact of being a only child.

A 2024 Study Chinese children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 have shown that unlike stereotypes, only children have more "prosocial behavior" than children with brothers and sisters. Prosocial behavior can be defined as anything that benefits others, such as sharing, volunteering, donation, care and cooperation. The researchers concluded that, in the end, the positive parental styles had much more influence on the prosocial behaviors of children than the number of brothers and sisters.

Another 2021 study Fourth year Chinese students have found that only children are higher academic directors than their peers who have brothers and sisters.

Thus, while some studies have shown that only children can share certain features, it is important to recognize that these traits are not necessarily negative.

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So, is the only children's syndrome real?

There is not much scientific evidence to maintain only children's syndrome. But what do experts say about the differences in personality between children only and children not alone?

"The experiences of children only are diverse, and their development is influenced by a complex interaction of factors, in particular parental style, socioeconomic status and socialization opportunities with peers," explains Rosado.

For example, Rosado stresses that a only child in an urban area with younger and socially active parents could have access to a wide range of cultural and educational experiences.

"The urban environment could also present more stimuli and structured extracurricular activities, promoting a well-balanced development," she explains. "However, the fast rhythm urban lifestyle could also arouse challenges such as overstimulation or higher stress levels."

On the other hand, a sole child raised in a rural area with older parents could have a quieter education, which could be more insulating but also offer more opportunities to connect with nature and promote more self -sufficiency.

"With older parents, the child could engage in more adult activities and conversations, which potentially leads to advanced maturity," said Rosado.

In addition, a only child raised by a single parent on well-being could develop a strong feeling of resilience and responsibility by observing the challenges of his parents, but they could also face difficulties due to economic stress and Limited resources, explains Nobile.

According to Lyon, whether parents are absent or strongly involved in their child's life can also play an important role in shaping their personality.

"Although there are stereotypes suggesting that only children could be more self -centered or fight with social skills, these traits are not universally seen and are greatly influenced by individual circumstances and environment," explains Nobile.

Is the only children's syndrome real? General consensus is no. It is not because a person was not born in a family with several children that she is guaranteed to take place in one way or another.

"Although there are certain traits and behaviors that could be more frequent in children only, these are not intrinsically negative, and they are not universally applicable," explains Rosado. "Each child is unique."

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How do you manage a child who shows signs of the unique children's syndrome?

If you have only one child and you start to notice it to develop one of the potentially problematic aforementioned features, experts say that you can do a lot to encourage positive changes.

"Parents of children alone can take proactive measures to ensure the well -balanced development of their child by encouraging social interactions, by teaching empathy and cooperation, promoting independence and offering balanced attention," explains Rosado. "It is important to focus on the individual needs of the child and to create an environment that supports their growth and their emotional well-being."

Here are some tips for supporting the healthy development of a only child:

• Encourage activities that promote collaboration: "Registering them in team sports or group activities can help teach the value of sharing and work together," said TSE.
• Organize regular game dates: According to TSE and Wijessekera.
• Rent a good behavior: Positive strengthening is the most effective way to change the behavior, according to Nobile. "Praise and reward for cases of empathy, cooperation and effective conflict resolution, encouraging these behaviors to become habits, explains Wijsekera.
• Volunteer with them: Wijessekera suggests volunteering as a family, which can cultivate empathy and promote a sense of responsibility. Consider giving your child different options for volunteer opportunities so that they can choose a cause to which they feel strongly.
• Model what you want to see: "Children learn a lot by observing their parents," said Rosado. "High up games and activities that require in turn and work together, helping your child practice these skills in a fun and structured manner."
• Give them a newspaper: According to Rosado, journalization is an excellent tool for children only, because it gives them not only a safe space to think about their thoughts and their feelings, but also offers a outlet to develop self -awareness and emotional regulation.
• Define realistic expectations: If your child shows signs of perfectionist tendencies, Rosado recommends highlighting the importance of effort and improvement rather than success: "Avoid fixing excessively high expectations. Concentrate on the process rather than on The result.

Conclusion

Whether there is a child or more children does not seem to have an impact on their development almost as much as other factors such as the family environment, parental relationships and the level of socialization with peers.

According to Nobile, many children alone become well -balanced and successful people.

"Going beyond the myth of" single child syndrome "allows us to see each only child as an individual, shaped by his environment, their parenting and his personal experiences, rather than by stereotypes not taken care of", explains Rosado.