I Am Fascinated By Human Behavior

I've heard only children are becoming the largest birth order. I wonder if this will make society even more selfish and self centered to some extent. I know it's a stereotype, but most only children I've known really are more self centered with the "me first me only" attitude. They really suffer if they have to wait their turn or don't get their wants and needs put first, because they had no siblings to compete with at home. They react as if they've been assaulted when things don't go their way. This is certainly not true of all only children. I've known some very nice ones, and some real brats who did have siblings especially the youngest child or the only boy in a family, but in general only children don't learn the natural give and take of dealing with people. A big part of having siblings is you're forced to learn you are only part of a relationship, not the only one who counts. So I can only imagine even more conflict when all the only children grow up and have to deal with the real world.

Top | Newest First | Oldest First

Yulianna · 22-25, F

i am only child, no siblings. much of what you say is true. i am brought up with privilege and i do not have patience to wait for what i want. but i believe this is positive for me, it makes me determined to achieve what i want. my ambitions are important to me and i work very hard to make them come true.

as to dealing with people, because i was brought up surrounded by adults, no real interaction with people my age, i was accustomed at early age to be in adult world. i am thus able to achieve much more than if i had grown up slowly with siblings.

View 5 more replies »

Yulianna · 22-25, F

@TheSirfurryanimalWales @Cloud7593

[quote]A lot of parents of only children think their child is perfect and can do no wrong.[/quote]

that was certainly not the case with my parents.

Cloud7593 · 46-50, F

@TheSirfurryanimalWales I meant to tell you earlier, I knew a woman who grew up an only child who became a schoolteacher just so she could have her way all the time. She said she hated working with us adults because she couldn't have total control and have everything her way. The little kids she taught had to do what she said or be punished. She always tried to throw her work off on people which didn't always work. She rarely had friends at any time in her life because she said her parents always gave her her way and it was just too hard to give that up. She was truly pathetic!

Yulianna · 22-25, F

@Cloud7593 sounds wonderful! 🤨

Laurababe · F

I think it's the way children are raised, not necessarily because they are only children. Most parents these days can't discipline for fear of reporting so the kid knows what buttons to push to get their way. In adulthood, they'll get their way, in an easily offended culture we now have.

MartinII · 70-79, M

I don’t think you can generalise. And I think it’s a bit dangerous to accuse other people of being selfish - glass houses and all that.

InOtterWords · F

I do see what you mean, I see it often and yes it is only children who tend to be more bratty.

However there are exceptions, I was in a long relationship with an only child and he very much missed having the company and went out of his way to put others first so he could belong.

Cloud7593 · 46-50, F

@InOtterWords Yes there are exceptions. Thanks for answering.

Add a comment...