An only child, what science says about it
A Life / / December 19, 2019
It is believed that children who have no brothers and sisters grow up spoiled and selfish. We understand whether this is so.
Corinna Hartmann
Psychologist, science journalist.
Only children in the family always do everything on their own, do not know how to share and, as a rule, are selfish - such established stereotypes. Although recent studies suggest that this is an exaggeration. So where did these prejudices?
In the XIX century American educator Eugene Bohannon has published results of a surveyA Study of Peculiar and Exceptional Children 200 people (at that time it was a new form of study). In it, he asked the respondents to tell about the peculiarities of the nature of all the children whom they knew.
In 196 cases, the participants described the only children in the family as too spoiled. Bohannon colleagues agreed with the results of his research, then the idea that one child in the family - it's bad, is widespread in society.
In addition, at the beginning of the twentieth century believed that
training without siblings does hypersensitive children. Parents concentrate all their worries and fears on one child, and it makes it very receptive. As a result, he grows nervous hypochondriac.However, the dataQuantitative review of the only child literature: Research evidence and theory developmentObtained psychologist Tony Falb, denied the allegations. She - the only child in the family. And in his work he argues that the presence of the brothers and sisters does not warrant the establishment of a decent man.
In 1986, Tony was a review of more than 200 studies on the topic. And she did not find serious differences between those who have brothers and sisters, and those who brought up one.
But it turned out that the only children in the family stronger emotional bonds with their parents.
This finding confirmed the studySocial Capital in the Health Development of Children 2018, which is conducted by Andreas Klok and Sven Shtadtmyuller of Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences. They analyzed the dynamic data about 10 000 German schoolchildren to determine the particular nature of the first-born in large families and single children.
The researchers also studied the quality of their relationships with their parents - This indicator measures by how easily a child can contact them on complex and important issues.
As a result, 25% of single children in the family, considered his relationship with his parents positive. In families with several children, the first-born, who could say the same thing, it was less. In third place is near his parents were average seniority, and the last - the youngest.
Despite the close relationship with their parents, many children who grow up without brothers or sisters, sorry about that. It is found in 2001, Lisen and Priscilla Roberts Blanton, when askedI always knew mom and dad love me best: Experiences of only children several young people to remember his childhood.
In addition, because of the lack of a reliable companion in the face of a brother or sister in the preschool age often appear imaginary friends, which the guys play and share experiences. But worry because this is not worth it - this game develops your child's ability to communicate with others.
However, still there is evidence that only children in a family are less likely to compromise. These new dataOnly-child and non-only-child exhibit differences in creativity and agreeableness: evidence from behavioral and anatomical structural studies We received in China - where the policy of one child family planning rules dictated almost four decades.
A group of researchers led by psychologist Jiang Qiu interviewed 126 students, who had no siblings, and 177 of those who were. Assessed their mental abilities and personal qualities.
The only children in the family showed the worst results in the tolerance test.
And according to the five-factor model of personality (FFM), such people are described as conflict, Mistrustful, self-centered and prone to competition.
Students were also asked to pass test creative creativity Torrance. They needed to come up with as many as possible of the original applications of everyday objects, such as tin.
Only children in the family had more lateral thinking - they were able to solve problems creatively.
This may be due to the fact that, having no brothers and sisters, children often have to rely only on themselves. Therefore, they are forced to become creative and resourceful at an early age.
But that's not all. MRI tests revealed differences in brain structure. In the only children in the family, researchers found more gray matter in supramarginal gyrus - areas of the cortex associated with creativity and imagination.
However, they turned out to be smaller than the cells of the gray matter in the frontal lobe. And this area is just responsible for the tendency toward tolerance, the ability to understand the feelings of others and control their own emotions.
The impact of the lack of brothers and sisters depends on how many other possibilities there are for the development of a child's social and cognitive skills. After all, they are not cut off from society: the same communication in kindergarten contributes to the development of communication skills.
While parents have only one child, will have to try harder, to teach him to share his toys, books and attention of adults, number of children in the family is not as important as creating a relaxed environment and atmosphere love.
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