Not all children with older siblings develop these kinds of dysfunctional beliefs. But Sally’s ideas were reinforced by her mother, who frequently criticized her: “You did a terrible job straightening up your room. Can’t you do anything right?” “Your brother got a good report card. But you? You’ll never amount to anything.” Sally, like most children, placed enormous stock in her mother’s words, believing that her mother was correct about nearly everything. So when her mother criticized her, implying or directly stating that Sally was incompetent, Sally believed her.