The idea of parental favoritism might seem inherently subjective (what do we mean by “favorite,” exactly?) but researchers have developed ways to identify differences in the ways parents treat their children, [Alex] Jensen said.
“Very few studies are going to approach parents and say, ‘Well, who is your favorite child?’ Parents aren’t going to answer that. They’re going to say, ‘I don’t have one,’ ” he says. Instead, researchers asked parents for more concrete information…
The findings of the study indicated some clear and consistent patterns: Daughters tend to be favored by parents — according to parents themselves; children didn’t report that same pattern from their perspective, Jensen said.
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There were also some benefits to being an older child, the study found: “Older siblings were given more freedom and more autonomy,” Jensen said…
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More predictably, the study also found that certain personality traits are linked to favored treatment: Children who were agreeable…and conscientious…also tend to be favored by parents.
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