The Favorite ChildPrometheus Books, 2010 - 302 pages For more than thirty years, veteran clinical psychologist Ellen Weber Libby has been helping successful, often-powerful clients in Washington, DC--a place known for its outsized personalities--deal with their personal problems. One pattern that has emerged out of some 60,000 hours of therapy is what she calls "the favorite child complex." In this groundbreaking book, she describes in intimate detail how being the favorite child can confer both great advantages and also significant emotional handicaps. While many of Dr. Libby's clients are successful because of their favorite-child status--they have been brought up to believe that they can do anything and are unafraid of challenges-- they suffer from an array of personality problems. Behind the outward appearance of money, power, charm, and attractive looks, they feel an intense pressure to maintain the façade at all costs. Sometimes their ability to tell the truth becomes shaky; sometimes their intimate relationships are elusive. In a series of chapters that offer insightful vignettes from actual therapy sessions (the identities of clients are disguised), Dr. Libby explores why parents, consciously or unconsciously, choose a favorite child, as well as the long-term effects of being the favorite son or daughter of either or both parents. She also discusses family situations where parents have successfully made each of their children feel favored and have instilled in their children a healthy emotional balance. She details parental skills and family processes that increase the likelihood of this type of success and that, most importantly, reduce the risk of the favorite child's curse--power corrupted. Illuminating for adults trying to come to terms with their own emotional baggage as well as parents seeking the best way to rear their children, The Favorite Child makes for rewarding reading. |
Contents
Preface | 9 |
Favorite ChildThe Road to Power | 15 |
CHILDRENS STORIES | 151 |
Copyright | |
9 other sections not shown
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The Favorite Child: How a Favorite Impacts Every Family Member for Life Ellen Weber Libby Limited preview - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Abigail accepted adored adult Alex Alex's amygdala Annemarie attachment baby Beatrice became behaviors believed Beth Beth's brain brother career caretaker Carole Caroline challenge chapter Cheryl chil childhood confidence Darlene daugh David Livingston developmental dren dynamics Ed's Edward emotional experience Faith family members father favored favorite child complex favorite child status favorite children favorite sons feelings felt fetus friends function grew Hank healing healthy hippocampus husband impact infant intimate relationships John John's Laius learned limbic system lives Marissa marriage married Matt Mildred Morris mother mother's favorite child mother's favorite daughter Nate needs Oedipal complex Oedipus oldest pain person physical play psychological psychotherapy queen of Corinth reenacted reflected relationships with women resentment response riences role Sara Roosevelt Sarah Scooter Scooter Libby shame siblings sister skills sociopaths story struggle tension Teri Teri's therapy tion tionship trust truth uncon unconscious wanted wife woman Yolanda young Zoe's