Birthorder

Where a child places in the birth order can have an effect on how he sees himself. Research on birth order, sometimes referred to as ordinal position, shows that first born children are more likely to go to college than children in any other position in the family. Parents should attempt to help each child to see themselves as unique individuals and avoid comparisons with siblings or others.

The middle child often seems to have the most negative impressions of his lot in life. One approach to help middle children reframe things is to point out that in a sense they have the best of both worlds. They are the youngest to the older sibling and the oldest to the younger sibling. Therefore they are both a big brother/sister and a little brother/sister. Younger children always want to be able to do the things older siblings are allowed to do. And older siblings may feel that the younger siblings get away with things they were not able to when they were the same age.

Only Child

Pampered and spoiled.

Feels incompetent because adults are more capable.

Is center of attention;

often enjoys position. May feel special.

Self-centered.

Relies on service from others rather than own efforts.

Feels unfairly treated when doesn't get own way. May refuse to cooperate.

Plays "divide and conquer" to get own way.

May have poor peer relations as child but better relations as adult.2

Pleases other only when wants to.

Creative.3

May have striving characteristics of oldest and inadequacy feelings and demands of youngest.

Likes being the center of adult attention. Often has difficulty sharing with siblings and peers. Prefers adult company and uses adult language

FIRST CHILD

Is only child for period of time; used to being center

of attention.

Believes must gain and hold superiority over other children.

Being right, controlling often important.

May respond to birth of second child by feeling unloved and neglected.

Strives to

keep or regain parents' attention through conformity.

If this failed, chooses to misbehave.

May develop competent, responsible behavior or become very discouraged.

Sometime strives to protect and help others.

Strives to please.

SECOND CHILD

Never has parents' undivided attention.

Always has sibling ahead who's more advanced.

Acts as if in race, trying to catch up or overtake first child. If first child is "good," second may become "bad." Develops abilities first child doesn't exhibit. If first child successful, may feel uncertain of self and abilities.

May be rebel. Often doesn't like positioN

Feels "squeezed" if third child is born. May push down other siblings

MIDDLE CHILD

Has neither rights of oldest nor privileges of youngest. Feels life is unfair.

Feels unloved, left out, "squeezed."

Feels doesn't have place in family.

Becomes discouraged and "problem child" or elevates self by pushing down other siblings.

Is adaptable. Learns to deal with both oldest and youngest sibling

YOUNGEST CHILD

Behaves like only child. Feels every one bigger and more capable.

Expects others to do things, make decisions, take responsibility.

Feels smallest and weakest. May not be taken seriously.

http://www.childdevelopmentinfo.com/development/birth_order.htm

Many people believe that their position as the eldest, middle, youngest, or only child in their family affected their personality in some way. Parents often muse whether their children's birth categories have affected their development. Since everyone has a birth category, it is not surprising that many people have developed their own implicit theories regarding birth order and personality. Many have probably been exposed to birth order theory, of either scientifically grounded or mythological origins.

The purpose of the present study is to investigate birth order trends for five traits that have proven to be among the most interesting to birth order dynamics - ascendancy, emotional stability, responsibility, sociability, and self-esteem. The construct definitions that are measured by the Gordon Personal Profile (GPP; Gordon, 1978) serve as a frame of reference. The following review of the literature indicates that some consistent trends are in evidence for IQ and achievement variables, but that there is substantial inconsistency with regard to personality traits and birth order.

IQ and Achievement

It has been well-established that oldest and only children have an academic edge over the other birth categories, with overrepresentation in college, IQ measurements, SAT scores in the US and equivalent tests in the UK being primary indicators of this trend (Eisenman, 1992; Falbo & Polit, 1986; Parker, 1998; Storfer, 1990; Zajonc & Mullally, 1997).

pp. 2 Responsibility

Responsibility, in the GPP set of traits, characterizes individuals who value dependability, which is also expressed as greater persistence and greater attention span. When combined with other variables it could take the form of the "self-starter"