It's very easy to spoil an only child. In fact, it's even easy to spoil several children. Spoiling or overprotecting an only child in today's society is an act which is sometimes overlooked. Parents try to provide the best for their children, but sometimes their "best" can turn out to be the worst for the child.
Some parents keep a constant guard over an only child; protecting the child from "any" situation. Any time the child cries, the parents appear at once immediately fixing the situation for the child. Children learn quickly from a very early age just which emotion to use, to get exactly what they want. Now they're in control. They cry or complain about something and we jump.
In some cases the only child turns out to be a reflection of their parents. Although, some of the parental choices which are made (in an only child situation) can help change this mirror image of us into something quite different. Most parents strive to do the very best for their only creation, but sometimes their only creation turns out to be a brat.
All of our attention, emotions and time is spent on the child, trying to provide the young child with a good self image. But, when too much self image is given to the child, a sense of superiority becomes instilled into the child. In some cases this higher "self image" is not noticed until it's almost too late.
This elevated self image of our child is then noticed: with their friends, at school, and then usually at home. By now a growing narcissist attitude is beginning to form into the child's personality, and now the parents are left wondering what went wrong.
Without any siblings the only child can sometimes lose it's sense of sharing. The only child is the number one focus of it's parent's attention, with everything in the household being centered directly around it. Now, you have a young child growing up not only feeling better than others, but also feeling that everything revolves directly around them. Sometimes these children also lose their sense of compassion towards others as they've grown accustomed to being the center of attention.
As the child grows up with this attitude they believe that everything should be handed to them. They soon get the feeling that society owes them something. This child's emotions are now ruled by "their" desires and needs; not the needs of others.
After the child has been given everything, they now expect all of their desires to be filled when they want it, not when the parents believe it's needed. The child now begins to expect everything exactly their way such as: only doing chores they like, eating only their favorite foods, bedtime hours which they choice, and play time.
Now you're no longer a parent but a servant to the child. When everything doesn't go the child's way temper tantrums are thrown and sulking takes place. The child then resorts to doing anything they can to get the desired emotional reaction (from the parent) they expect.
Now, the over abundance of attention which the parents have shown this child in the early years has finally come back to haunt them. This over protectiveness which was given to the child has created a false sense of society; as the child is unable to cope with situations in society on their own. Now, the young child's abilities to cope in a society on their own has been drastically limited.
A well rounded emotional outlook is needed for the young adult to be able to make it in today's world. The young adult needs the ability to make clear well rounded decisions all on their own. There must also be a desire in the young adult to work for the things they want in life. Our children must be able to apply their abilities on their own; without having everything handed to them on a silver platter.
Some children who are childhood brats grow up to be very self centered adults with an egotistical attitude. Now, they're of course the center of their own universe; because that's exactly what they were taught to believe.