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0 / 31 Fotos
Strong sense of identity
- Without siblings to compare themselves to, only children often develop a strong sense of who they are from an early age.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Resourcefulness
- When their parents were busy, only children learned to entertain themselves by creating play scenarios, fixing broken toys, and cooking simple meals. This resourcefulness usually continues into adulthood.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Parent whisperer
- They're great with other people's parents because they grew up chatting with adults.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
A sore loser
- They are more likely to take things personally and react emotionally.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
No FOMO here
- Only children may avoid unnecessary socializing as they have been brought up to be used to their own company.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Deep friendships
- Without siblings to share life's ups and downs with, only children often form deep and meaningful friendships, creating bonds that can be as strong as family ties.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Ultimate parent negotiator
- They can argue their way out of anything due to years of practicing on their parents as the sole defendant.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
More autonomous
- Only children often dislike being micromanaged because it can make them feel like their parents don't trust their abilities or judgment.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
French exit - They just get up and leave a room without saying anything or announcing where they're going.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
My way or the highway
- Only children are used to getting their own way.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Undisputed bathroom ruler
- They take 45-minute showers or long relaxing baths; blissfully unaware that siblings might have protested long ago.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
No sharing skills
- They look genuinely baffled when asked to "share" fries. What does that even mean?
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Extrovert or introvert
- They're either the loudest in the group or the quietest.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Positive relationship with parents
- Only children report a more positive relationship with their parents. This is true in childhood as well as in adulthood.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Approval and validation - They strive for approval and seek validation from authority figures.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
No hurry to eat
- They eat their food leisurely (because no one will steal it).
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Independence
- They are more likely to be independent, self-reliant, and comfortable making decisions on their own.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Halloween candy
- They leave their Halloween candy in the kitchen. What's the risk?
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Perception of personal space
- Only children don't have the same perspective of "personal space" as people with siblings. They can hog draws, closet space, etc.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Alone time - They have a strong need for alone time and personal space.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
One-person powerhouse
- They are self-sufficient and can do jobs that should take two to three people by themselves. Moving furniture and appliances etc. Growing up as an only child can foster a problem-solving mindset.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Is anybody listening?
- They talk to themselves...a lot.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
High expectations
- Being the sole focus of parental attention can often translate into high expectations. Many only children grow up feeling a strong pressure to succeed.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Navigating conflict - Having grown up without siblings to fight with, they may experience struggles in navigating conflict.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Roughhousing skills need improvement
- Their roughhousing skills are below par.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Let them eat cake!
- If you cut a cake in two, they can't immediately tell you which one is the bigger half.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Group dynamics
- Only children might experience challenges in adapting to group dynamics.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Sensitive to criticism and teasing
- Without siblings to tease them, only children might be more sensitive to criticism and teasing.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Not thrilled to "take one for the team"
- Only children can get unreasonably angry about group punishments because they often value fairness and individual responsibility. When they are punished for someone else's mistake, it can feel unjust and frustrating, leading to anger and resentment.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Unable to negotiate
- Only children often have trouble negotiating. They're used to getting what they want and never had to cut deals with their siblings for the TV remote! Sources: (Lifebulb) (Reddit) (Yahoo) (BuzzFeed) (Research Addict) See also: The pros and cons of being an only child
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 31 Fotos
Strong sense of identity
- Without siblings to compare themselves to, only children often develop a strong sense of who they are from an early age.
© Shutterstock
1 / 31 Fotos
Resourcefulness
- When their parents were busy, only children learned to entertain themselves by creating play scenarios, fixing broken toys, and cooking simple meals. This resourcefulness usually continues into adulthood.
© Shutterstock
2 / 31 Fotos
Parent whisperer
- They're great with other people's parents because they grew up chatting with adults.
© Shutterstock
3 / 31 Fotos
A sore loser
- They are more likely to take things personally and react emotionally.
© Shutterstock
4 / 31 Fotos
No FOMO here
- Only children may avoid unnecessary socializing as they have been brought up to be used to their own company.
© Shutterstock
5 / 31 Fotos
Deep friendships
- Without siblings to share life's ups and downs with, only children often form deep and meaningful friendships, creating bonds that can be as strong as family ties.
© Shutterstock
6 / 31 Fotos
Ultimate parent negotiator
- They can argue their way out of anything due to years of practicing on their parents as the sole defendant.
© Shutterstock
7 / 31 Fotos
More autonomous
- Only children often dislike being micromanaged because it can make them feel like their parents don't trust their abilities or judgment.
© Shutterstock
8 / 31 Fotos
French exit - They just get up and leave a room without saying anything or announcing where they're going.
© Shutterstock
9 / 31 Fotos
My way or the highway
- Only children are used to getting their own way.
© Shutterstock
10 / 31 Fotos
Undisputed bathroom ruler
- They take 45-minute showers or long relaxing baths; blissfully unaware that siblings might have protested long ago.
© Shutterstock
11 / 31 Fotos
No sharing skills
- They look genuinely baffled when asked to "share" fries. What does that even mean?
© Shutterstock
12 / 31 Fotos
Extrovert or introvert
- They're either the loudest in the group or the quietest.
© Shutterstock
13 / 31 Fotos
Positive relationship with parents
- Only children report a more positive relationship with their parents. This is true in childhood as well as in adulthood.
© Shutterstock
14 / 31 Fotos
Approval and validation - They strive for approval and seek validation from authority figures.
© Shutterstock
15 / 31 Fotos
No hurry to eat
- They eat their food leisurely (because no one will steal it).
© Shutterstock
16 / 31 Fotos
Independence
- They are more likely to be independent, self-reliant, and comfortable making decisions on their own.
© Shutterstock
17 / 31 Fotos
Halloween candy
- They leave their Halloween candy in the kitchen. What's the risk?
© Shutterstock
18 / 31 Fotos
Perception of personal space
- Only children don't have the same perspective of "personal space" as people with siblings. They can hog draws, closet space, etc.
© Shutterstock
19 / 31 Fotos
Alone time - They have a strong need for alone time and personal space.
© Shutterstock
20 / 31 Fotos
One-person powerhouse
- They are self-sufficient and can do jobs that should take two to three people by themselves. Moving furniture and appliances etc. Growing up as an only child can foster a problem-solving mindset.
© Shutterstock
21 / 31 Fotos
Is anybody listening?
- They talk to themselves...a lot.
© Shutterstock
22 / 31 Fotos
High expectations
- Being the sole focus of parental attention can often translate into high expectations. Many only children grow up feeling a strong pressure to succeed.
© Shutterstock
23 / 31 Fotos
Navigating conflict - Having grown up without siblings to fight with, they may experience struggles in navigating conflict.
© Shutterstock
24 / 31 Fotos
Roughhousing skills need improvement
- Their roughhousing skills are below par.
© Shutterstock
25 / 31 Fotos
Let them eat cake!
- If you cut a cake in two, they can't immediately tell you which one is the bigger half.
© Shutterstock
26 / 31 Fotos
Group dynamics
- Only children might experience challenges in adapting to group dynamics.
© Shutterstock
27 / 31 Fotos
Sensitive to criticism and teasing
- Without siblings to tease them, only children might be more sensitive to criticism and teasing.
© Shutterstock
28 / 31 Fotos
Not thrilled to "take one for the team"
- Only children can get unreasonably angry about group punishments because they often value fairness and individual responsibility. When they are punished for someone else's mistake, it can feel unjust and frustrating, leading to anger and resentment.
© Shutterstock
29 / 31 Fotos
Unable to negotiate
- Only children often have trouble negotiating. They're used to getting what they want and never had to cut deals with their siblings for the TV remote! Sources: (Lifebulb) (Reddit) (Yahoo) (BuzzFeed) (Research Addict) See also: The pros and cons of being an only child
© Shutterstock
30 / 31 Fotos
Personality traits that reveal an only child
The distinctive characteristics of growing up solo
© Getty Images
The theory of "only child syndrome" suggests that children without siblings may lack social skills and be spoiled, lonely, or selfish. This stereotype originated from a 19th-century survey by E. W. Bohannon, where most respondents described only children as excessively spoiled. This idea persisted in pop psychology until Toni Folbo's 1986 survey, which found no significant differences between only children and those with siblings, except for a stronger bond with parents. A 2018 study confirmed this finding.
However, the internet is ablaze with opinions on distinct traits that often reveal whether someone grew up with or without siblings. From surprising common traits to the more quirky signs, we’ve compiled the 30 most common ways to spot that someone is an only child. Click to browse and see if you can relate!
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