Birth Order: Does It Really Matter?

I like your interesting topic of birth order. Actually, it seems somewhat credible at least to me because the description of each siblings in our family fits. Especially, I, as the second one, like to make peaceful atmosphere for every situation, while my sister strives forward to achieve high, and takes risk for doing something new. However, I consider myself as the the risk-taker too! I like to procrastinate and cram the study materials just before a few days from the exam day. It seems to make non-sense, but still it describes how I am a risk-taking person!

You raise an interesting point on the replication of birth order studies. My own family tends to run contrary to typical birth order studies as well, the youngest is the safest one, and the eldest is the risk taker.

I am generally one who would agree with the idea that birth order can influence someone's personality. Research clearly demonstrates this overarching idea is invalid, although I'm not entirely convinced. I feel like there are a lot of variables involved in this question that the research may not be addressing. For example, I feel like the gender of siblings and the specific combination of genders plays a role in shaping how each sibling acts. For example, my younger brother is 19, while my younger sister is 13. I feel like my childhood would have been slightly different had my sister turned out to be another brother or my brother had actually been another sister. Another thing I feel like is important is the difference in ages. I have friends whose siblings are over 10+ years younger than them, and I feel like this must have shaped them differently than I was shaped by having a brother only 2 years younger than me.

I am the middle child of three children, and I can also vouch that the 'birth order' theory does not match my family.

However, I don't doubt that generally speaking there are some characteristics that can be weakly correlated with birth order based on common experiences and shared roles. For example, as first borns, many times the eldest child is dealt more responsibility at a younger age, like taking care of the younger children. Learning responsibility earlier can give the eldest child the advantage of learning time management and acquiring more advanced cognitive abilities earlier, leading to the common 'over achiever' status.

But, of course, every experience is subjective, and can lead to the opposite out come. Say for example, instead of early responsibility leading to 'over achievement', it could lead to resentment and rebellion in the child.

So while I don't agree with the birth order theory, nor does it seem to have much evidence to support it, I don't doubt that there is something behind the theory that can be studied, if that makes sense.

I agree that the birth order theory lacks any credibility without replicatability. However, I do find the theory interesting. Does the theory take into account gender of the siblings? Or the age differences between the siblings?

I agree with your thoughts here to some extent. I do not believe, by any means, that the personalities listed first are correct for describing the birth order. My oldest brother, for being as smart as was, was quite an underachiever. In addition, the middle brother was the exact opposite of the peace maker. As kids, he would cause up any kind of trouble he could all the time. However, I do believe that in certain situations, one could categorize each member of the birth order as being someone who would act a certain way. For example, if thrown into a dire situation, I believe that the oldest brother, or sister, would feel the most compelled to help out his younger brothers.

I think that birth order is an interesting study. I believe this is similar to the zodiac signs, where it is a broad category and observers and identify particular situations in which the individual fit the description. However, I find it interesting that they don't make descriptions to fit larger families. I have three siblings and these descriptions fit all of my siblings, but where do I fit in? My friend has eight siblings, I wonder how one could use birth order to label her family.

Your blog raises an interesting perspective as to how birth order effects behavior in siblings. I do think its important as to how your article showcases the why these statements don't always hold true by using the criteria established at the beginning of the book. Coming from a family with just one sibling, I don't have much personal experience with middle children but I can see how these generalizations can help explain certian peoples behavior.

This is a very interesting topic. I agree with you that birth order does not really exist. I am the youngest, and I am definitely not the risk-taker in the family. The labels presented do not fit us and I can't imagine they fit every other family either. I think you're right in saying that it is just an easy explanation for personalities.

The birth order theory is very interesting. I never had any siblings, to it is hard for me to apply this theory to my self. However, when I read this blog, I started thinking about families I know who have more than one child. What I found is that this theory does not really apply to families I know. Yes, it is interesting and simple explanation to actions people take; however, it falls victim to scientific principles.

I think that birth order does affect people's personalities to a small extent. I believe it has something to do with their roles in the family dynamics. Usually, the oldest child is given more responsibility because they might have to take care of their younger siblings. This may shape their personality to become a high achiever. Also, the youngest child tends to be the most spoiled one so they might get away with things than other siblings. This might lead their personality to become risk takers.

Does every case have to fit in for their to be a correlation? There is a correlation between height and weight, but you can certainly find examples of short and fat people and tall skinny people. Couldn't a desire to set a good example be explained by being the first born? Does causation matter in this case? The article you include, seems to provide scientific evidence for real relationships between birth order and personality, but you neglect to mention this at all...

This is very interesting because I do not find this apparent in my family. I have one older sister and she is not the achiever of the two of us. Instead, she is the risk taker and the social person of the family. Do you think birth order really does matter as scientists have put them out to be?

Interesting blog but I do not find this within my siblings. I do not find this valid with any family really. The birth order should not matter the personalities of the child or the way they act. I don't have a middle sibling, but my younger sister and I have very similar personalities. Do you think there is any correlation at all to the order of birth?

This definitely does not hold true in my family. My older brother is super laid back, while I am more of an achiever. Do the personality types change according to the number of children that are in the family?

Interesting topic, I could maybe see a relation between personalities in your family and a traditional family. I'd be interested however if birth order had any effect on personality if kids were reared apart, only one parent took care of them, etc. It could also be a cultural thing, children have different responsibilities depending on what culture they live in.