Focuses on a study regarding the psychology of singletons in China
after it has implemented its one-child-per-family policy. Advantage of
only-children in China; Research psychologists' findings on the
personality and social behavioral problems of singletons in the early
1980s.
By
Hong Guo, published on January 01, 2000
CULTURE
Two decades after Red China implemented its one-child-per-family
policy, many eared the rise of a generation comprised of spoiled,
dysfunctional "little emperors." But now, as the government marks its
50th year in power and the first rowdy bunch of only-children turns 20,
research shows that things aren't as bad as they seem.
As someone who burned out reaching high school to this generation
in China, I focused my master's research at San Francisco State
University on the psychology of such singletons, and recently presented
my findings at an American Psychological Association conference.
On a positive note, only-children in China have an indisputable
advantage: Several studies confirm that since they don't have to share
their parents' attention, they get more play and go on more stimulating
ventures. In 1987, researchers found that in comparison with those who
for reasons managed to have siblings, China's only-children, especially
when they were young, showed superior cognition, intelligence and
academic achievement.
But it was no surprise that in the early 1980s, various Chinese
research psychologists found that only-children were also more likely to
have personality and social behavioral problems, to be more egocentric
and less persistent at tasks than their peers from bigger
families.
Over time, however, Chinese culture adapted. In the late 1980s,
more and more parents encouraged only-children to participate in
collective activities such as preschool and day care to improve their
behavior.
And as one-child families became a societal norm, parents changed
their attitudes toward their children, doting less and using more
authoritative parenting methods. Recent studies reflect this change,
finding fewer differences between only-children and those with siblings.
As Buddhists say, "Unceasing change turns the wheel of life."
PHOTO (COLOR): Little Emperors
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