As the youngest sibling in my family, I married another youngest, and I readily acknowledge that we both exhibit many of those stereotypical “youngest child” traits that birth order theories suggest. I use the term “suggest” because, honestly, there’s a surprising lack of thorough scientific research supporting the claims about how our birth order impacts our personality traits. Despite this, we often find ourselves categorizing our children based on these assumptions.
I’ve caught myself saying things like, “Oh, he’s the oldest, so naturally he’s a born leader and super organized” or “That’s my youngest—such a carefree jokester who gets away with everything.” And then there’s “Yes, that’s my middle child, always so agreeable and quiet.” But did they develop these personalities solely based on their birth order, or is it more a reflection of our parenting style? Would their personalities shift if they were born in a different sequence?
A recent study suggested that birth order might even influence intelligence levels. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh and the University of Sydney found that firstborns generally scored higher on IQ tests than their younger siblings. They posited that parents engage less in stimulating activities with their younger children, which may hinder their cognitive development. Really? Who needed a study to figure that out? With subsequent children, it’s just a matter of time management.
Firstborns across the nation rejoiced, sharing the findings on social media, much to the chagrin of their middle and youngest siblings. After all, that’s what they do, right? The idea that firstborns are inherently more intelligent was first introduced by a scientist in the 19th century, who noted that many of his colleagues were firstborns. Alfred Adler, a contemporary of Freud, theorized that firstborns feel “dethroned” when a younger sibling arrives, resulting in certain neurotic tendencies but also making them natural leaders. He described the youngest child as “spoiled and outgoing” while claiming that middle children tend to be independent and rebellious. It’s interesting to note that Adler himself was a middle child.
Despite the limited scientific backing for birth order theories, society has embraced these stereotypes, often boasting about how our children fit neatly into these molds. However, a 2015 study analyzing over 20,000 adults found that birth order had minimal influence on traits like extraversion or emotional stability. Another significant study in the Journal of Personality revealed little evidence to link personality directly with birth order in over 350,000 high school students. Researchers concluded that birth order isn’t a crucial factor in understanding personality development or intelligence.
So why do these beliefs persist? It seems that birth order theories, much like horoscopes, offer vague traits that people can easily relate to. A firstborn with a hint of leadership may label themselves as a “natural leader,” and because we’ve clung to these beliefs for so long, society perpetuates the narrative. Unfortunately for middle children, this means they might never get the recognition they deserve.
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Summary
The concept of birth order affecting personality traits is largely unsubstantiated by rigorous scientific research. While many parents may find themselves attributing certain characteristics to their children based on their birth order, studies indicate that parenting style and individual experiences play a far more significant role than the order in which children are born.