Thanks, sis: you are smarter when you have a sister

If she has once again snatched your favorite learning jacket to the pub, you will most likely be able to strangle her. Still, you owe more to your sister than you think.

She actually makes you smarter, researchers from Concordia University in Canada state. This is because you learn a lot from her during the time you grow up together. She involves you in many activities throughout your entire childhood, and as a result, you know more and more as a child. Hello, high IQ. Think of playing certain games, talking to your parents, or making friends at the sports club – before you know it, you understand how the important things in life work. Learning by copying, yes.

Now I have double luck, because I even have two copies: a younger one (who incidentally has the best chance of becoming a millionaire ) and an older sister. Look, that's a win-win.

Psychologists have been researching the effects of having sisters for years. What turns out? It doesn't matter whether your sister is born before or after you: she makes you a bit smarter anyway. You can copy from your older sis, but you can teach your younger sister all sorts of skills yourself. From doing handstands in the garden to flirting with boys in the pub; when you explain and demonstrate something, you automatically get better at it yourself. No wonder that especially the communicative skills are passed from sister to sister. Humor, flirting, maintaining friendships: you can either do it exactly like she does or learn from her mistakes. Sisters therefore even have an influence on your love life.

 
In short, I’ll send both my sisters a flower as a thank you. Although, I guess they would prefer to share a glass of wine together. If we are going to celebrate our intelligence anyway… Learned from the best, shall we say.

Don't have sisters, but have a brother? Don't worry. That's very good for you.

FACTS

• About 20 percent of all children in the Netherlands are currently only children.
• Only 1 in 10 children has 3 (or more) sisters or brothers.
• Having larger families is more common in some places than in others in the country. For example, 44 percent of all mothers with four or more children live in Urk (Flevoland) and 33 percent in Staphorst (Overijssel).

Source: 99U

Written by: Tessa Heinhuis