When Your Mother Has a Favorite

Why does parental favoritism affect children long after childhood ends? KATIE ROSE LCSW explores parental differential treatment (PDT), the psychological effects of being the less-favored child, sibling relationships, core shame, and healing from maternal coldness. This article examines how favoritism can shape adult self-worth—and how therapy, reparenting, boundaries, and differentiation can help adult children stop seeking parental approval and begin building a secure relationship with themselves.