Sibling relationships are complicated, and I’m not just referring to the incestuous overtones in Season 3 of “The White Lotus.”

Sometimes, one sibling can be overshadowed by their more outgoing or successful siblings, making them feel lacking. Sasha from the Netflix series “Nobody Wants This” implies this when referring to himself and a friend as the “loser siblings” of their families.

Having a sibling can feel like a zero-sum game of winners and losers. And though it might seem harmless to joke about being a “loser sibling,” there are consequences that come along with internalising this label. “Childhood labels and favoritism have a huge impact on identity development and how adults continue to see themselves in the world,” said Charlynn Ruan, a licensed clinical psychologist and the founder of Thrive Psychology Group.

Below, experts discuss traits that adults are likely to develop if they grew up as the “loser sibling” and how they can move past this label.

People who feel invalidated by their families tend to have poor self-esteem.

1. Low self-esteem

People who feel invalidated by their families tend to have poor self-esteem. “Even though they likely have many positive personality traits and talents, they may see themselves as inferior to their sibling,” said Natalie Moore, a holistic therapist specialising in people pleasers and women navigating anxiety and trauma.

Inside jokes like calling another sibling the golden child “are often a cover for something that is painfully true and harmful,” Ruan said. If one sibling is consistently favoured by their parents or peers, the others might think they’re flawed or unworthy of praise and affection.

Instead of thinking, “I may not be smart or athletic, but I’m capable of other things,” the “loser sibling” might have an all-or-nothing mindset where they tell themselves “I am bad” or “I’m worthless.”

2. People pleasing

If they didn’t feel special or important to their parents or caregivers, they may expect to be treated the same way by friends, bosses or romantic partners. Since they fear rejection, they might be afraid to show initiative in choosing friends or partners who are good to them.

“They will often work overtime to try to

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