Steven is the oldest, and undoubtedly represents "denial." Although his brother and sisters are relatively open about the supernatural phenomena that they experienced while growing up in Hill House — as well as afterwards, well into adulthood — Steven maintains that their visions of ghosts can simply be chalked up to mental illness inherited from their late mother, Olivia. He claims he never once experienced anything freaky as a boy, and goes on to make a living writing books debunking ghost stories around the country. By the end of season one, it's clear that Steven was burying his childhood memories, especially when it came to the night of Olivia's tragic death.