Stereotypes Of Birth Order

There are many stereotypes associated with birth order. We often hear how the oldest child is bossy, the middle child is rebellious, the youngest child is spoiled, or the only child does not know how to share. However, in one way or another these stereotypes hold some truth. Growing up with a father who is a marriage and family therapist, I have always had an understating of my own personality, and that of my family members. As the eldest child, there has always been a set of expectation that innately came with being born first, that differed from my two other siblings. Some psychologists believe that our personality is derived from the order in which we are born. For years’ studies have been linking personality to birth order. Many psychologies
How much of these stereotypes are true? And how much are purely by chance? It is said that first born children are natural leaders. More than half of the United States Presidents, all of the US astronauts, and most Nobel prize winners are the first born child (The Birth Order Effect 2015). Some of the greatest leaders not only in America but around the world have been first born. Such as Franklin D Roosevelt, Hillary and Bill Clinton, Adolf Hitler, Saddam Hussein, and Winston Churchill (The Birth Order Effect 2015). Why is this? Some say it is because parents have high expectations and a higher set of standards for the eldest child. The oldest child tends to take on more responsibility and naturally they become a role model for their younger siblings. However, many eldest children resent this responsibly and leadership position that is forced upon them. Psychologist Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book states that not everyone responds well to a higher set of standards. Leman states that “When he feels like he has disappointed his parents or can’t measure up, he may veer off in another direction” (Ratledge
Many scientists and psychologists have theorized why these stereotypes hold truth. As humans is our personality derived from our genetic composition or is it shaped by life experiences? How birth order influences a person’s personality and nature versus nurture was first suggested in the 1860s. Human evolution has suggested a Darwinist struggle that arises within a family from the moment we are born. “Darwinians theory of evolution explains that each individual progressively develops a unique set of characteristics; thus, the variation amongst individually creates competition toward survival” (Sulloway 1999). Psychologist Dr. Frank J. Sulloway took Darwin’s theories and made a link between natural selection and evolution. He suggested that the ideas of natural selection are relevant today within every household. Sulloway theorizes that by forcing siblings with clashing personalities to live together it ultimately causes conflict. This conflict leads to competition for attention, resources, affection, and superiority (Sulloway