4 ms·

Are there any psychology/sociology studies how one-child policy impacted China's society? It has been documented how having one child vs siblings impact one's p

Are there any psychology/sociology studies how one-child policy impacted China's society? It has been documented how having one child vs siblings impact one's psyche. I wonder what kind of impact it has on a culture/society as a whole if most are from single-child families.

Blackthorn 11y ago
Well, we definitely know that the policy combined with the already-existing culture resulted in a massive gender gap. Not sure of any studies beyond that, I too would be interested!
monk_e_boy 11y ago
I've wondered that, also. I have a number of friends who are teachers, all of whom say that you can spot a single child within about 5 minutes of observing them. They just act differently. Watching the difference in my oldest child when the second came along and was old enough for them to play together - it was astounding. There must be some optimal number of siblings for mental health. More than 1 less than 4 ?
- drzaiusapelord 11y ago
  Care to describe the difference?
- emilga 11y ago
  > I have a number of friends who are teachers, all of whom say that you can spot a single child within about 5 minutes of observing them. They just act differently. Differently how? Whenever a student comes late to class, I've always imagined that those students who look up from their work are more likely to come from rural areas in Norway, and that those who don't look up to see who is coming are more likely to come from the city. But I don't really know what the difference in behavior would be for a sibling vs only child.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
chriskanan 11y ago
See this Science paper: https://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6122/953 https://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6122/953 Their main finding: "[We find that the one-child policy] has produced significantly less trusting, less trustworthy, more risk-averse, less competitive, more pessimistic, and less conscientious individuals."
- Keyframe 11y ago
  Excellent start! Thanks. edit: This seems to be the paper that's not behind a paywall http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234104566_Little_Emperors_Behavioral_Impacts_of_China's_One-Child_Policy http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234104566_Little_Emp...
- o0-0o 11y ago
  In my personal experiences dating women from China that now live in the US: There is also a loneliness, depression, and generalized malaise to their thoughts due to being an 'only child'.
  - Keyframe 11y ago
    If we take that observation as general rule (not that it is, but let's pretend) - wouldn't that make for a stronger collective then? In order to mitigate those issues. Lots of interesting speculations can be made. Sociologists and psychologists must have a field day there.
- TeMPOraL 11y ago
  Interesting. > less trusting, less trustworthy (...) less competitive I wonder how it goes together. "Less trusting" and "less trustworthy" should mean "less cooperating" and thus more competitive. Adding "more risk-averse", does this mean they just sit around doing nothing? I'd be interesting to read an additional analysis, as I notice I'm confused by those findings. But: > less competitive That's actually a good thing, isn't it?
zhemao 11y ago
Yeah, I wonder if there's been any studies done on the validity of "Little Emperor" syndrome. That is, the fear that the generation of single children would grow up spoiled and socially maladjusted.

Blackthorn 11y ago

Well, we definitely know that the policy combined with the already-existing culture resulted in a massive gender gap. Not sure of any studies beyond that, I too would be interested!

monk_e_boy 11y ago

I've wondered that, also. I have a number of friends who are teachers, all of whom say that you can spot a single child within about 5 minutes of observing them. They just act differently. Watching the difference in my oldest child when the second came along and was old enough for them to play together - it was astounding. There must be some optimal number of siblings for mental health. More than 1 less than 4 ?

drzaiusapelord 11y ago
Care to describe the difference?
emilga 11y ago
> I have a number of friends who are teachers, all of whom say that you can spot a single child within about 5 minutes of observing them. They just act differently. Differently how? Whenever a student comes late to class, I've always imagined that those students who look up from their work are more likely to come from rural areas in Norway, and that those who don't look up to see who is coming are more likely to come from the city. But I don't really know what the difference in behavior would be for a sibling vs only child.

deleted 11y ago

[deleted]

chriskanan 11y ago

See this Science paper: https://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6122/953 https://www.sciencemag.org/content/339/6122/953 Their main finding: "[We find that the one-child policy] has produced significantly less trusting, less trustworthy, more risk-averse, less competitive, more pessimistic, and less conscientious individuals."

Keyframe 11y ago
Excellent start! Thanks. edit: This seems to be the paper that's not behind a paywall http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234104566_Little_Emperors_Behavioral_Impacts_of_China's_One-Child_Policy http://www.researchgate.net/publication/234104566_Little_Emp...
o0-0o 11y ago
In my personal experiences dating women from China that now live in the US: There is also a loneliness, depression, and generalized malaise to their thoughts due to being an 'only child'.
- Keyframe 11y ago
  If we take that observation as general rule (not that it is, but let's pretend) - wouldn't that make for a stronger collective then? In order to mitigate those issues. Lots of interesting speculations can be made. Sociologists and psychologists must have a field day there.
TeMPOraL 11y ago
Interesting. > less trusting, less trustworthy (...) less competitive I wonder how it goes together. "Less trusting" and "less trustworthy" should mean "less cooperating" and thus more competitive. Adding "more risk-averse", does this mean they just sit around doing nothing? I'd be interesting to read an additional analysis, as I notice I'm confused by those findings. But: > less competitive That's actually a good thing, isn't it?

zhemao 11y ago

Yeah, I wonder if there's been any studies done on the validity of "Little Emperor" syndrome. That is, the fear that the generation of single children would grow up spoiled and socially maladjusted.