Final Chapter Ii

CHAPTER II REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

This chapter present concept gleaned from literature and

previous

studies

of

different

researches

which

are

essential and relevant to the study. It includes foreign and local literature.

Foreign Literature A research study by Hall, a psychologist who was a popular child rearing expert of his day, asserted that an only

child

is

lonely,

selfish,

spoiled,

impatient

and

maladjusted. Also, Hall said that being an only child was so damaging to character and that it was a “disease unto itself”. But there's a new wave of research that says these perceptions are completely untrue and subjective. And with only child families rising, it's something parents don't need to worry about. However, with only child, there are some

social

adaptions

you

will

want

to

put

in

place.

Although countless studies and a multitude of child rearing experts say it's not true, the claims that only child are spoiled, selfish and bossy have shown astonishing sticking power. 11

Another study on the topic by Blake (1981) reveals that

being

an

only

child

is

popularly

regarded

as

a

handicap. During the 1970s, analyses appeared showing an intellectual

advantage

for

only

child

relative

to

those

from most other family-size/birth-order statuses. As for whether only child are spoiled and maladjusted, research by Claudy,

Farrell,

and

Dayton

finds

strikingly

positive

personality and adjustment values for only child, as well as clear intellectual superiority. Blake asserted that only child are educationally and occupationally achieving, count themselves happy and satisfied with important aspects of life, are not politically and socially alienated, do not have disruptive family lives, and are unlikely to require public assistance. A

research

study

by

Reidmann

et.

al

explains

that

siblings play important and lifelong roles in the social lives of most individuals. Most adults consider a sibling a best friend, report positive feelings about their sibling, and frequently interact. The importance of having siblings is a well-entrenched American value reflected in persistent concerns

about

having

only

one

child.

The

result

of

Reidmann’s research study indicates that only 3 percent of American adults think the ideal number of children for a

12

family to have is one. Many view having another child, so that

their

son

or

daughter

will

have

a

sibling,

as

an

important consideration for childbearing. Thus, not only is the sibling relationship thought to be one of the most enduring apparent

of

human

concern

detrimental

relationships that

during

a

but

there

of

siblings

lack

childhood

and

is

also will

throughout

the

an be

life

course.

Local Literature A research study by Marcelo (2007) proves that only child receive excessive attention, mature precociously and, due

to

the

absence

of

siblings,

they

become

selfish,

demanding, dependent and moody. Some pieces of evidence do not

confirm

the

stereotype

about

only-child,

suggesting

that they do not present personality problems and can even show benefits related to intelligence, school achievement and

career

friends

as

success. not-only

Only

child

ones,

seems

being

to

leaders

have and

as

many

feeling

satisfied with their lives. Only child tend to show traits similar to first-children and seem to have higher selfesteem than children with siblings.

13

A research study about child development explains that being an only child is not a good option. The perceptions of only child being socially maladjusted, narcissistic, and spoiled are pervasive. On the other hand, the study point to results that indicated that only child do better in school, more motivated, have higher self-esteem, and are even more gifted socially. Another study on the topic by Ellamill (2004) about the

case

of

only

child,

pertinent

scholarship

indicates

that the behavioral and developmental deficiencies commonly associated with on lies are by no means unique to, or even more prominent among only child. In fact, an ever growing body of research shows that a lack of siblings is not a developmental households

can

disadvantage, be

quite

and

beneficial

that when

single it

child

comes

to

intellectual growth and character formation.

14