Birth Order Effect: Busted

Birth Order Effect: Busted
Winston Churchill once said “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” Churchill was the oldest child in his family and eventually went on to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom; the question remains; does birth order determine who people will become? Cultural norms say that the oldest child is responsible and driven, while the baby of the family is spoiled and irresponsible; an evaluation of this idea needs to be taken. Children are not directly influenced by the order of birth within their family, rather, the way they are treated by their parents individually has a greater impact on the family as a whole.
Birth order can no longer be the scapegoat for behavior and personality traits. While
Gretel Kauffman explains that birth order does not influence personality as much as was originally thought. This article further examines the methods that are most typically used to study this idea, concluding that the information does not point to a strong correlation between children’s personalities in relation to the order of their birth. “The analysis also showed a pattern of differing personality traits between firstborns and younger siblings - firstborns, were on average, more extroverted, agreeable, and conscientious - but those differences were ‘infinitesimally small’ as well” (Kauffman). The point is often overlooked, however, families often have an array of differing personalities under one roof. This relates to birth order in that it cannot be blamed for the variation of personality or in the motives behind the way behaviors are exhibited. Children often share a few similarities in behavior within their families, however, they are, typically, if not usually, very different from their siblings. While children
Firstborns, middle children, and the babies of the family are oftentimes positioned in categories with specific behavioral patterns. Author Carolyn Gregoire explains that for many years, multiple scientific studies have been conducted relating to the correlation between birth order and personality. She goes on to say that generally
Author Cosima Marriner explains, with the help of other psychologists, that birth order does not play as heavy a role in personality as parenting style does. “Professor Haslam said that while birth order could play a part in family dynamics when children were growing up, it had no bearing on what [they] were like as adults” (Marriner). As children grow up, they can sometimes, in a sense, be hidden in the shadow of their other siblings. While this sometimes plays a big role as they grow up, once the children reach adulthood, that role becomes smaller and does not take up as much space. Birth order more so affects family dynamics than personality. Its influence is more directly associated within a family and who plays which