What do you think about only children?

Question

My antropology professor was talking about family and he said that, the eldest son will usually be more traditional and take after his fathers footsteps, but the second son will usually be more of a rebal. He didnt mention anything about only children, I will ask him but I wont see him til next week.

But what are you opinions on only children growing up, how does being an only child affect their personality and behaviors?

Ok thanks everyone for your opinions, but I was actually wanting to hear from professionals or students maybe in Psychology or Anthropology.

Answer 1

If the second child is prone to be rebellious, then I must be a second child! I have never take the beaten path :-)

There are plenty of nuclear families, which have only one child. Maybe these kids are one which are needy, greedy and slightly nuts.

At the same time there are plenty of families where the parents themselves were not only children and the the siblings kept in close contact. If these parents have single children, I wouldn't expect these kids to be whiny, needy, greedy or majorly nuts.

You have a good question... and all that we can offer as answers are opinions that are at best subjective... What you could do is take a statistical approach to this question, prepare a questionnaire and circulate it around... then depending on the responses you can draw some interesting inferences!

Answer 2

I have taken a few psychology courses and I'm now in a psychology of personality class where we just discussed this. Alfred Adler was the founder of the birth order theory. Basically, an only child is a first born that is never "dethroned" by the birth of a sibling. They never lose the attention of their parents. First borns are usually more traditional. Second borns need to compete for their parents love so they have to find their own way of doing so, hence being more of a rebel. Therefore, only children are very similiar to first borns. The main difference being that the spotlight is not taken off of them when they are young so they face a rude awakening in social situations where they are not the center of attention. It is also worth noting that many studies to support alot of Adler's theories on birth order failed at everything except for finding a correlation between radical ideas and later born children.

Answer 3

I was a therapist with troubled adolescents for 21 yrs, as well as having been a Kinder teacher for 5 yrs in an inner city. Family constellations always fascinated me and I did find a lot of corroboration with the general theories--only children, as well as sibs with 3 yrs' spacing, tend to identify with authority; sibs of 2ys spacing are generally peer-oriented. In the classroom, the kids who are always talking with others in the class are generally closer spaced and those who are attentive in class and want to answer Q's, usually are onlys or those with 3+ yr's spacing.
In graduate school, I constructed a questionaire re preferece for structure; seating (rows vs. circles) ; lectures vs group discussions, etc. and there was a high degree of correllation there, too, with their own constellation.

As an example, I was an only and grew up in the Depression. Mom was pretty scared and had no time for me. Children then were to do what they were told; not make waves; and generally be seen and not heard. In school I craved recognition from my teachers--but avoided it, too, as that brought peer disapproval. Finally in HS, that didn't bother me anymore and I went for grades and self-satisfaction. I had a few good friends, too.

Of course, nothing is clear-cut---within the Authority Orientented group, it can range from a positive attitude toward Authority to a Wanting Authority, but at the same time, shying away. Loners are generally Authority oriented. Then there are Peer-Oriented kids that want to be with others, but are frightened of peers...perhaps from sibling abuse; or older brother running away from the younger sib. These different attitudes come from the child's relationship with their parent and sibs--positive all the way to fear and revulsion.

Answer 4

As on only child I wasn't spoiled, or treated like I was special, I didn't get everything I wanted. Or all the other things only child stereotypes lead you to believe . What I did notice, was I was always very mature for my age. I have been told I was like a mini adult when I was a child. In high school I was always the responsible one (my friend's parents loved me for that reason). I generally found friends that were older than me. And I dated older guys. Oh yeah I was always willing to share because i didn't have sibbling.

Answer 5

Only children tend to be more selfish since they never had to share anything or have hand me downs. They also never had to compete for attention from their parents. I think everyone should have at least 2 kids. Only children also will never know what it's like to have siblings and their kids will never have aunts and uncles at least on that side.

Answer 6

well i personally think tht only childs are spoiled and get everything that they want. I think they have a more controlling personality because they are used to getting everyting that they want. and my oldest brother didn't follow into my father's footsteps, on the contary, he went into the navy and he doesn't act like my dad at all, but he does look like him.

Answer 7

sorry,i had 5 brothers&3 sisters.

Answer 8

I think it depends on the parents.

Answer 9

well im an only child as well and i once read that an only child is very organized and are very responsible. thats how i am so maybe that means that its true but idk. so i hope that i helped.

Answer 10

Only children are more needy and annoying