Steve Jobs is clear. From the beginning, he was an unfavored child. He was rejected by his first two sets of parents. His birth parents didn't want him. These young graduate students were unable (or unwilling) to care for this illegitimate child. His second parents reneged on their commitment to...

WARNING: Spoilers below.

It's that time of the year when pundits speculate about who will win Academy Awards. Movies examining mother-daughter relationships are often contenders, and this year is no exception. Natalie Portman, the star of "Black Swan," is favored by pundits for her brilliant portrayal of Nina, a driven...

"The Kids Are All Right," this summer's sleeper hit starring Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo, tells the story of a sister and brother who make contact with their father, whom they only knew as "the sperm donor." But it is more than a movie about a twenty-first century...

When the economy is down our jobs are vulnerable. However, our behavior at the workplace can keep us away from the unemployment line. We must show our best side at work and be mindful of the parts of our personalities that our families may find funny, cute or tolerable but...

"Admitting to a favorite kid is one of the biggest taboos in parenting, although the vast majority of moms -- and pretty much all kids -- perceive that there is a golden child in just about every family," blogs Amy Kuras in "Toddler Newsletter."

As the saying goes, the truth...

"I don't think parents should worry about 'having' a favorite, but rather about the 'how' of parenting a favorite," writes Barbara on the blog Life 360.

This sentiment reflects an important principle underlying the favorite child complex: favoritism is normal and occurs in EVERY family -- traditional and nontraditional,...

It's Father's Day! Feeling Special?

Father's Day is fast approaching and children of all ages will soon celebrate their fathers with words, gifts, and cards. Some fathers will enthusiastically and whole-heartedly embrace the tributes coming their way, while others will be more guarded, not psychologically prepared to celebrate.

Since every child is different and every parent relates differently to each child, having a favorite is inevitable. But at the suggestion that one child is favored over the others, parents often become defensive. Why?

• Because parents confuse love with favoritism;

• They fear they have done something wrong that...

Mother's Day is fast approaching. As the day nears, many mothers find themselves torn between their appreciation for their children and how little they felt appreciated when they were children.

"It was no secret that my mom preferred my brother over me. To this day she will still make...

"You bet I'm the favorite parent," one woman adamantly expressed during a reading of my book, The Favorite Child, which addresses the topic of favoritism in families. "I'm always around for my kids. I help with homework, make their meals, and take them to practices. When they have something on...

Did you know that there are favorite children in every family? Did you know that favoritism impacts every family member for life? In my 30-year practice as a clinical psychologist, I have observed, on a daily basis, the effects of favoritism on favorite children, overlooked children and unfavored children. I...