Ordinal Position and Substance Abuse: Literature Review

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.

According to Alfred Adler, the birth order of the children in a family will largely affect how they age and the personalities which they will form. First borns enter the family as the only child. They revel in the love and full attention from their parents, that is, until the second baby comes along. Suddenly, first borns are dethroned and lose the undivided attention they are used to receiving. As a result, they tend to develop a strong sense of responsibility and protectiveness over their siblings at an early age, which often leads to them becoming authoritative adults. Moreover, when there are multiple children in the family, parents will set high

There are many things that effect a person’s personality and future success. Things like gender, race, ethnicity, and economic stability are all examples of what can affect a person’s development, but what about someone’s birth-date? Can a person’s birth-order really effect someone’s future? In “The Power of Birth Order” Jeffrey Kluger writes about how birth-order can determine a person’s personality and success; throughout “The Power of Birth Order” he established three categories: first-born, second-born, and third-born.

Toler developed a list of common personality traits that first, middle, youngest, and only children would have and then lets the readers decide for themselves if those traits fit what birth-order they identify with. Although the personality traits that I identify with did not match my birth order, I still found Toler’s idea that birth order shapes who we are to be true. The section talking about only children, rang the most truth to me because I have a cousin who is an only child and she fits Toler’s description of an only child perfectly. I feel that Toler was effective in getting readers to agree with her idea, which is why she wrote this

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

The first-born children are given a great amount of attention since birth because as temporary only children… they earn all the spoils (Weller, 2015). First-time parents are extra-cautious as it is their first experience with raising a child. Parents tend to be

First born children who later have younger siblings may have it the worst. These children are given excessive attention and pampering by their parents until that fateful day when the little brother or sister arrives. Suddenly they are no longer the center of attention and fall into the shadows wondering why everything changed. They are left feeling inferior, questioning their importance in the family, and trying desperately to gain back the attention they suddenly lost. The first born child can become “problem children, neurotics, criminals, drunkards, and perverts” (Cloninger, 2008). However, on the flip side, the first born usually are the peacemakers of the family even though they are a pampered and spoiled child.

You are connected to your family by more than just blood. The way you think and act is largely based on the unnoticed bias your parents give during childhood. Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler was the first to explore the ideas of birth order and how it affects personality due to family ordinance. Adler was a world renowned psychiatrist and philosopher who formed the idea of individual psychology. “He was a colleague of Sigmund Freud and helped establish psychoanalysis, and was a founding member of the Vienna Psychoanalytic Society” (Cherry). Associate professor in the psychology department at the University of Redlands Catherine Salmon says,“Adler’s work led to an explosion of birth order studies examining the relationships between birth

Though there are specific temperaments and personality traits commonly found in each birthplace, it does not signify that each characteristic perfectly fits a single child or adult in that order. Many variables interfere with the general traits found in each birthplace and can easily change the personalities of that specific order. A complete change in birth order characteristics can also result from these specific interferences. Both circumstances in the outside and inside world take effect and are called the variables of birth order. These variables are very important to keep in mind while looking at this subject. Dr. Kevin Leman, an internationally renowned psychologist, and New York Times Bestselling Author, lists some of the major variables found in many children and adults in his book The Birth Order Book. The spacing of up to five years or more, gender, physical and mental disabilities or difference, deaths in the family, and also spacing will interfere and alter the personality traits found in each birth placement. This list of variables can continue on, but looking at these can provide insight to those dealing with doubts towards their specific birth order or where they may fit

There is one aspect of individual psychology that I really like and agree with – the family constellation. Alfred Adler developed an interesting theory about birth

The order in which a child was born into his family affects the personality of the child. There are oldest, middle, youngest and only child personalities, which affect the character and future of the child. Although it does not apply to all cases, most children fall into their category. Alfred Adler, an Austrian psychiatrist was the first to come up with the theory that the order that a child was born into his family affects his or her personality. Their placement can affect everything the child does throughout his life; his decisions, choices and personality in general.

However, Sulloway’s studies brought in a new dimension to the study of birth order. It was through his research that the Big Five Personality traits, namely Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism, were introduced into the study (Sulloway, 2001). Data was gathered reflecting the personality dispositions of individuals based on birth order. This served to give credibility to this particular area of

Although there are a number of scientists supporting for the idea of being the firstborns is beneficial and advantageous, recent studies assert that the effects of birth order no longer are significant. The children’s intelligence depends on many factors such as family size, child spacing, prenatal factors, gestational factors, not only birth order

The birth order position can have a profound effect on the character development of the child. Within the birth order position is the only child, the oldest, and the youngest. According to Adlerian Psychology, the only child makes up the majority of the patients. They are pampered and made to believe that they are the most beautiful, intelligent, and most important person on earth. It is important to teach an only child courage in order

From the perspective of modern psychology, the extent to which Adler’s theory about the order of birth is scientific is highly debatable. Many of his concepts are not measurable or manipulable, and his variable are neither physical nor behavioral. Adler did not consider measurement or an experimental approach in general as the most efficient approach to