The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-08-13
The Favorite Child
ny "a. ADDINGToN Bruce
Author OF The Riddle OF Person
atty. Psychology and
PRTenthood." etc.

FsYoritism in the family Is an evil
that cannot be too heartily deplored
And 10 IA al exceedingly widespread
Evil
In every land there are today
fathers aud mothers committing the
grieYous error OF singing out come
one OF their children FOR special ar
lection and sOlicitude
The consequences or such fRvorit
ism are twofold They affert ad-
yerseiy both the child unduly favor
ed and the child or children com.
paratNely sighted.
The outcome for the favored child
aimseit b, particularly likely 20 De-
disastrous When the gayoritism In
wolves really excessive love and
anxiety there IS more than prob
ability that. no matter how good the
childs Inherited qualities. be viii
grow up ~ arrogant selfentered,
ueurCtic Weakung
And FOR these reasons
bscause he is the favorite child.
and because his brothers and sisters
instinctively resent this. rs inter
course with them Is likely 90 De az
tended BY more than the usual
amount NJ childhood tension and
friction As result there Is bound
20 be a dangerous stress on merry
Gus system already more or less
strained by the fussing and Gattcr.
ing OF ndulgout. Nnthinkine parents
soon or late. II a kind fortune
does not rescue him A. an early age
from his hArmlu, home surroundings
as ~ his removal 20 a good board
ting school one may count on his
displaying marked eccentriClties OF
character and conduct
BE Will be- llmenfahly selfish and
concrlted lie viii DO dencient IN
initiative and adaptation lie may
become nervous invalid suffering
from pathological conditions perhaps
involving serious mental symptoms
Contributing 80 The same end Is
The fact that the fayor!fe child is
often perhaps I should SAY usually
brought up without being properly
Disciplined either morally or men
tally
TreatAd with anecuonate indul
gence no ia not made accustomed 20
SELF .control Nor is De trained 20
keep his mind actively and usefully
occupied
Modern authorities are agreed that
n many cases mental and nervous
diseases may Do directly traced 60
this neglect IN early HE. or erec
tive training OK The Wili and % th.
Intellectual facultlez-
And in fact some specialists In
re treatment ~ mental and nerv.
Gus diseases. analyziHs the I've hrs
tories ~ fheie patients. have -pecf
ically noted that tavorlfe chlGrsn,
together Nth only children form
a large pr portion ~ such patients.
and are particularly likely 20 p" AZ
sicted Rith Anti-sociai personal
traits
Thus pr A A Bril- % New York.
unhesitAtinsly af'rms thai the rule
among only children and tayorte
children ~ 20 grow up 'conceted.
jealous. end envous Or Briil adds
by way ~ Illustrative comment
4 favorite son a bachelor % -
years. who Vas wealthy retired
merchant. told mo that Shenovnr
there was Use IN fhe market he
suffered from severe depression and
nts q envy simply because he knew
that 3ome OF his friends would mako
money He himself had no personal
interest. ia the market
such qualities are surely nor con
ducive 20 happiness. and tt is not a.
all surprising that almost all such
children are selfish. unhappy. and
morose
BE warned. therefore, II YOU are
me parent % several children ShoT
no favori'ism For II YOU 4 vou
may rest assured that "a d. VIII
come whom YOU will bitterly regret
your indiscrction