Birth Order Theory False

     One long controversy among behavioral scientist is the existence of a sibling position effect. Birth order research and theories can be criticized because of differences between parents, sibling positions of the parents, size of families, socioeconomic status, and culture. The conclusions drawn from research studies on sibling position are also often contradictory. However for some reason children with certain birth order roles grow into adolescents and adults with similar qualities.

Alfred Adler was most famous for his perspective on how the development as a person based on your birth is progressed. He believes that each family is different and that his birth order scale just happens to be a possible tool to help people understand the general roles of children. Even though Adler states the types of position you were born are important, he also describes his birth order scale as “it is not birth order itself that accounts for differences among siblings, but the psychological situation resulting from it” (Allen, 2006). For example, you may be an only child, but take on many or possible more characteristics of a middle child based on Adler’s description. Although Adler believes in the characteristics he stated for each birth orders, he states that if there are more than three years between the children, that the birth order may appear different or inaccurate.

In the texts “That That Elusive Birth Order and What it Means for You,” and “How Birth Order Affects Your Personality,” the authors give their interpretation on the importance of birth order in siblings. The author of the first text, Susan Whitbourne, stresses the unimportance of birth order. Conversely, Joshua Hartshorne, the author of the second text, says that birth order is significant to personality, but there just has not been enough evidence until recent studies.

Some say that people are just who they are, that a person no matter their origin or upbringing will end up exactly how they are and ultimately who they were meant to become, but what if they were wrong? Why am I loud and vivacious, yet my younger sister is quiet and shy, and my brother is more protective over my youngest sister and ignores me? What makes anyone the person that they are? Sure, the things that happen at school mold people, but the real developments happen at home. An individual's personality is solely based upon the order and the timing of birth in relation to their siblings, if any. A well renowned psychologist, Dr. Kevin Leman employs effective elements of rhetoric in his book, The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the Way You

Almost all of us are familiar of the Birth Order theory that Alfred Adler presented almost a century ago. Adler theorized that our personalities are hugely influenced by our chronological place in the family because

As senior Sociology majors at Augustana College, our final project involves effects of birth order, first generation students and Autism awareness among college age students and we would like your participation. As an Augustana College student, we are inviting you to participate in this research study by completing the survey.

Have you ever thought about if your mom treats you differently than the oldest or the youngest kid? If you are the youngest or the oldest have you ever thought that the middle child was treated better than you just because it's the the middle child like everyone always thinks and everything is just easier for them. Well it just might be true in another way. The birth order does affect things that happen to you. In many ways such as allergies, ADHD, and PTSD. Birth Order of when kids are born can have effects on them for the rest of their lives.

Whether it 's noticeable or not, the way in which siblings are born can have massive impacts on their lives. Many characteristics set aside by the concept of birth order are known to us already, such as a parent liking one sibling more than the other, parents being more lenient with one sibling, etc. We are able to pick out a person as being the only child or the youngest of the bunch just by talking to them for even a couple of minutes. With this in mind, it’s reasonable to believe that the order you’re born in shows in your personality. But surprisingly, it can also affect how you live and prosper throughout life. This idea that birth order controls how you are going to end up can be seen in the screen adaptations to Tennessee Williams’ plays Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and A Streetcar Named Desire. Gooper and Blanche, the eldest siblings in the movies respectively, are shown as taking on the burden of their families whereas Brick and Stella, the youngest siblings in the movies respectively, seem to be able to do as they please. Over the course of these two movies, we are able to see these characters fit into their stereotyped birth order characteristics, while also seeing their growth in either out of them or deeper into what they’ve become because of it.

This theory best firs my personality because I truly believe that birth order and family relationships due to your birth order greatly affect a person’s personality, lifestyle, and choices. As I help those

The argument over the relationship, if any, between birth order and intelligence has sparked ongoing interest over the past century from both the general public as well as many notable scientists. Scholastic interest in the association between birth order and intelligence dates back to 1874 with Sir Francis Galton’s English Men of Science: Their Nature and Nurture. Galton, an English anthropologist and youngest of nine children, analyzed a small sample of 19th century English scientists and found the majority to be first-born children. Galton then theorized that first-born children received special attention from their parents that allowed cognitive growth. After much subsequent research and heated debate during the past century over Galton’s

The role of birth order is still taught and preached around today. People still follow this theory and made this theory the benchmark for sibling attributes. However, the Individual Psychology can be misleading in some aspects. This theories main criteria is the superiority and inferiority complex and unfortunately it doesn’t go into more nurture aspects such as environment, which can also shape up an individual’s attitude. Alfred Adler was an interesting psychologist to pick due to his past, and how that affected his theories as an adult. It is also unique to see how Adler’s disagreement with Freud led to his theories on individual and their personalities. Overall, Adler had a big influence on psychology and his contribution as a Neo-Freudian caved many other theories that explain

This is quite interesting and makes me wonder if my older sister ever felt "dethroned" when I was born. Furthermore if birth order really had an substantial affect on an individuals personality would a first born be more conscientious, structured, and more of a leader. While the youngest Im guessing would be attention-seeker, dependent, and overall a literal baby. Also where does that leave the middle

Birth Order Personality Traits It is easy to wonder how two children from the same family can turn out so differently, with completely different personalities and ways of solving problems. Recognizing the immense influence of family dynamics on young children can clear up a lot of the confusion. For example, eldest children look to their parents as role models for their behavior, and may become perfectionistic as parents expect them to act like little adults. Middle children may become more dependent on peer approval and their friends because they tend to get relatively less attention within their families.

I first was drawn to Adler and his theory on birth order due to the fact his focus was on personality. Understand why a person is the way he/she is, was a major driving force for me choosing to earn my Bachelors in psychology. Secondly, I have a strong relationship with my parents and siblings. I am the oldest of four siblings. I have a sister who is a year younger that I am, a brother who is three years younger than I am, and a sister who is five years younger than me. We have often had discussions before about our family dynamic. The final decision was that I am the oldest and the goody two-shoes that my parents are extremely proud of, my middle sister is the trouble-maker and is my parents least favorite (in her eyes), my brother is the only boy therefore he is spoiled, and my youngest sister is the baby and is treated like a princess. As I began to read Adler’s theory I could not have agreed more. Adler describes the first-born as a rule follower and a leader. In addition, I also tend to conform in order to please others, which was also a trait found in the first-born child. The middle born, my sister, often felt she did not have a place in the family because she felt the spot light was on her older sister and her younger sister. Now that she has grown up she has found her role and is most often the peacemaker connecting all of the siblings. I do disagree with the middle-born child when relating the theory to my brother. He is also technically a middle child, but I tend

Birth order refers to the order a child is born in their family; first-born and second-born are examples. Birth order is often believed to have a profound and lasting effect on psychological development and achievements. (Rodgers, Cleveland, Van Den, Rowe, 2000)