What feeling might an only child experience when things don't go their way?

An only child might experience feelings of unfair treatment when things don't go their way due to a variety of factors that are often associated with their unique family dynamics. Unlike children with siblings, only children typically have no one to share the spotlight with, which can intensify their experience of individual setbacks. When faced with disappointment, they may feel that they are unfairly singled out or that the situation is unjust, as they do not have siblings who may also be experiencing similar challenges or competing for attention.

In many cases, only children grow up in an environment where they are the sole focus of their parents' attention, leading them to develop a strong sense of expectations regarding their successes and how situations should unfold. When those expectations are not met, they may respond with a pronounced sense of unfairness, as they have not had the experience of negotiating or sharing outcomes within a sibling relationship.

While a sense of contentment or indifference might suggest a level of acceptance that is less common among only children, and a desire to work harder is more typically associated with resilience rather than feelings of unfair treatment, the specific emotional experience of unfairness resonates more closely with how only children perceive challenges and disappointments.