Only child stereotypes such as being lonely, spoiled, or selfish have persisted for years, despite being debunked by modern research. Susan Newman, a social psychologist, emphasizes that these misconceptions are deeply ingrained and difficult to erase. However, studies suggest that only children often experience positive mental health and satisfaction in life. The trend toward smaller families, especially in the U.S., makes it essential to challenge and correct these outdated stereotypes, which stem from early flawed research favoring larger families as an ideal.
When people ask me if I have any siblings, as soon as I answer 'no,' they often assume a lot about my personality just because I'm an only child.
[These stereotypes] get burned into our fabric, and it's very hard to get them to go away. [Even] when all the science supports that these myths don't hold up.
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