Children’s perception of favouritism affects their behaviour

Research has found that when children believe their parents favour another sibling this affects their behaviour. American psychologist Alex Jensen found that teenagers who believed they were receiving less favoured treatment were more likely to ‘act out’ and get into trouble. These young people were, for example, more likely to have tried alcohol, cigarettes and drugs compared with other teenagers. Jensen however found that family dynamics influence whether young people who feel they are treated less favourably rebel. In families that portrayed what he described as ‘close-knit relationships and less fighting’ the research found no link between perceived favouritism and acting out.