Is it weird to have a favorite child?

Although some families make jokes about having a favorite kid, most parents publicly deny liking one child better than the rest. But the truth is, deep down, the majority of parents do have a favorite child—at least according to research. Research shows favoritism can have lasting damage on kids.

Is the oldest sibling the favorite?

For parents, that tended to be the youngest—56 percent of those parents with a favorite said they preferred the baby of the family. Almost 40 percent of the grandparents with a favorite, meanwhile, preferred the oldest.

Do parents have a favorite sibling?

In fact, one study published in the Journal of Family Psychology found 74\% of moms and 70\% of dads reported preferential treatment toward one child. And even though parents in the study did not indicate which child they preferred, siblings can often report sensing which child is the parent’s favorite.

Why having a favorite child is bad?

The perception (or reality) of parental favoritism that is experienced by siblings can have serious and negative consequences within the family, including sibling rivalry, high levels of family conflict, low self-esteem, teen substance abuse and increased rates of depression and anxiety.

Why is the youngest child the favorite?

A study which looked at how parents are perceived to treat their children differently has produced some interesting findings. Researchers Susan M. McHale and Alexander C. Jensen concluded that younger siblings tend to be the favourite largely because they see themselves as the favourite.

Is it bad to have a favorite sibling?

Even if there is no discernible parental favorite amongst siblings, studies have shown that children often perceive preferential treatment of their sibling by their parents. Unsurprisingly, family conflicts and feelings of sadness and depression can result from favoritism, whether it’s real or perceived.

What is it like to be the second best sibling?

Any second-best sibling knows this feeling all too well! If a parent favors one child, in particular, they will always take their side, no matter what. When you were a child, that meant that any trivial fights that took place over the TV or Halloween candy were always judged with your sibling’s interests in mind.

Do parents really have a favorite child?

In research that will vindicate self-pitying siblings everywhere, sociologist Katherine Conger’s recently resurfaced longitudinal study found what many have suspected all along: Parents totally have a favorite child. Koger and her research team followed 384 families in which a pair of siblings was born within four years of each other.

How do you know if your sister is the favorite child?

1 They Know They’re The Fave The bottom line is favorite children tend to know that they’re the favorite. They see the special treatment they’ve always received and take note of all that effort and time put into them and their endeavors. So if your sibling believes they’re the favorite, there’s a good chance that they are.