The first to present the importance of the birth order theory is Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler, yet professionals continue to debate and perfect it. Birth order is proven to have a profound and crucial effect on psychological development. This theory has been often been challenged by researchers, yet it continues to have a strong presence in pop-culture. According to Adler, changing circumstances of the family over time is the main cause of the discrediting of the theory. Although there are many variables taken into consideration when identifying birth order, typical first, middle, third, and only children are all recognizable due to their undeniable characteristics. Despite the fact that there are many factors that contribute to a person’s evolvement, research shows that birth order is the leading factor to a human’s, emotional, physical, and intellectual development.
Birth order is a commonly discussed topic inside the realms of psychological research. Many studies have been organized to show the differentiation of personality concerning birth order. Characteristics of a personality, absent of birth order, play a monumental role in how a person reacts to social influence. A principle examination will occur concerning the view of the first-born child in comparison to the later born child for the purpose of illustrating how their susceptibility differs from one another. A related yet separated analysis will be done encompassing the characteristics of personalities of the first-born individual, as well as the later born individual focusing on the Big Five Personality Dimensions.
Birth order plays a major role in a person’s personality. It might seem ludicrous, but most people’s actions can be linked to the order in which they were born. Robert V.V. Hurst, a personality observer, proposed an interesting theory in his book, Life’s Fingerprint, which stated, “It’s not just a coincidence that similar birth orders have similar personality traits… each successive child in a family tries to be different, and that difference is seen in all families and crosses all cultural, racial, and ethnic lines” (Hurst 5). Every birth order has a certain personality that is caused by the influence of parents, siblings, or personal mental standards.
Birth order
Have you ever wondered why you and your siblings never get along, or why you are so different? I wondered the same thing until I read an article about birth orders effects on personality. This had to be why she had never spent an hour away from my parents and I haven’t willingly been within thirty feet of them since I was six, Why I love to read well above my grade level and my sister, a sixth grader, reads mainly Captain Underpants books when not glued to the T.V. and why we are a similar as oil and water.
Before I start explaining what birth order does I want clarify exactly what it is.
Birth Order and Personality
Many people’s personality can be viewed as something they have constructed themselves. However, numerous studies have proven that personalities may not solely be a personal choice, but a result of birth order. There have been many theories surrounding children of different birth order, specifically eldest, middle, and last child. For example, as stated by (), firstborns with younger siblings are more likely to be leaders because they want to emulate and be in favour with their parents. Although there are many variations of families, the most researched groups are the ones mentioned above.
Intelligence does not have a direct meaning. However, psychologists around the world have created a general idea of intelligence. To some, it means the ability to solve problems. To others, it describes the capacity to adapt and learn from experiences. Others argue that it is neither of those, but it includes characteristics such as creativity and interpersonal skills. Intelligence is extremely hard to describe, because it is something that cannot be directly measured. Intelligence can only be measured indirectly by studying an individual and comparing that to acts that people perform. Individual differences in intelligence tell us whether a person can reason better than others who have taken the test.
The order in which you were born in influences your behaviour in life. According to when they are born, children are assumed a role in the family. The oldest child is the more responsible and capable sibling in the family. They take on the position as the role model to the younger children. The middle child is capable, as they are more capable compared to their younger siblings; however, they also look up to their older siblings for help. The youngest child is the least capable of the siblings, but this does not make them helpless. For the youngest child, they have their older siblings to help them out. For someone who is an only child, they must rely on themselves and other people for help. Depending on the birth order, “it influences him
How Birth Order Affects One’s Personality
Everyone in the world is born with a special and unique character. Some of their personality is shaped by their surroundings as they grow up as well as the factor of genetics. It is believed by some psychologists/researchers that birth order has a tendency to influence parts of the personality. Birth order isn’t a simplistic 1-2-3 system that says all first borns are equally one way, all second children are another and last-born kids are always just like this or that. These are simply tendencies and general characteristics that often apply.
The Impact of Birth Order on Personality
Before I had children, I did not believe that birth order could affect the personality of a person. But now I have three beautiful yet very different daughters. So different that not only is it sometimes hard to believe they come from the same two parents, it’s sometimes hard to believe they come from the same species! I have come up with three categories to describe the peculiarities of birth order, the Perfectionist, the Tornado, and the Princess, at least as they pertain to my daughters.
The Perfectionist is the oldest child.
The patterns of birth order have been seen for centuries, although it was not studied exclusively until around the 1980s. There are many factors that play into a persons personality, such as their genetics, the way they are raised, and their environment. Birth order looks at a persons place in their family—if they are the oldest, middle, or youngest child—and provides commonalities between them and others in the same location in other families. While there are many variations, the general traits do apply. Research shows that the first born is typically a leader in the family and in other areas of life. The youngest child is usually light hearted and social. The one that is hardest to put a type to is the middle child. He or she will frequently try to blaze their own path, straying from the one that their older sibling made. I believe that birth order plays a part in a person’s personality, but that the way they were raised is also a very important variable. A child’s birth order, along with the way they were raised, is a major factor in the way they interact within their family and other groups.