Do you really know? Do parents really not have a favorite child?
Mar 6, 2026
Research showing many parents quietly favor one child sparks questions about who gets preferred treatment. The discussion covers how child and parent personalities shape favoritism. The conversation outlines five ways favoritism appears and how it often happens unconsciously. The episode also touches on potential harm to wellbeing and practical steps parents can take to notice and adjust.
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Large Study Finds Systematic Patterns In Parental Favoritism
- Researchers analysed data from over 19,000 participants to study parental favouritism across birth order, gender, temperament and parent traits.
- They found younger children get more favourable treatment while daughters are treated more favourably than sons, based on a large Psychological Bulletin meta-analysis.
Child Personality Predicts Positive Treatment
- Personality shapes parental preference: conscientious, responsible and pleasant children are likelier to receive positive treatment.
- The study links observable traits like responsibility and organisation to differential parental interactions and resource allocation.
Parent Personality And Shared Interests Drive Bias
- Parental favouritism also reflects parents' own personalities and affinities, not just child traits.
- Alexander Jensen explains parents may bond more easily with one child due to shared interests or personal preferences, producing unconscious bias.