Cinderella effect

noun

The alleged higher incidence of child abuse and mistreatment by stepparents than by biological parents.

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Meanings

noun
  1. evolutionary psychologyThe alleged higher incidence of child abuse and mistreatment by stepparents than by biological parents.

Origin

Named after the mistreated girl from the fairy-tale Cinderella.

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Cite this entry
APA

Cinderella effect. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinderella%20effect

MLA

“Cinderella effect.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinderella%20effect. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cinderella effect,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cinderella%20effect.

Source: Cinderella effect on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.