Birth Order Stereotypes

[Rainbow]

Do you think they're real? Or are they a psuedo-science? I'm rather skeptical of the idea, as I am with any kind of stereotype. I'm an only child, and I do admit that I fit some of the stereotypical traits, something I sometimes feel guilty for (I don't like feeling normal).

Another question I have is, do you know anyone who breaks the birth order stereotypes? This is just fictional, but I find it interesting and amusing that on Ranma 1/2, the one to inherit the dojo is supposed to be Akane, the youngest child. If they were following stereotypes, Kasumi would get the dojo because of primogeniture inheritance rules (the stereotypical rule that the first-born, especially the first-born male, gets all or most of the family inheritance). I'm glad Rumiko Takahashi (sp?) broke birth order stereotypes there! (not mention that Kasumi isn't leader-like or bossy, other stereotypical traits of the oldest child)

I'm especially interested in the "middle child" category for some reason, probably because there's less written about them in the birth order psychology literature.

[yoshmaster5]

dunno...

I'm supposed to be, "Charming and seductive"

and...

no way.... i have NEVER acted like that...

[Rainbow]

dunno...

I'm supposed to be, "Charming and seductive"

and...

no way.... i have NEVER acted like that...

Which birth order is supposed to be like that? Last-born?

[MonkeyDLuffy]

I'm the youngest. I do fit the stereo-type. I'm evil and use my youngness against my parents! I'm like kryptonyte and my parents are Superman. Mwahahahahaha...the power O.o

[Tiff]

This is just fictional, but I find it interesting and amusing that on Ranma 1/2, the one to inherit the dojo is supposed to be Akane, the youngest child. If they were following stereotypes, Kasumi would get the dojo because of primogeniture inheritance rules (the stereotypical rule that the first-born, especially the first-born male, gets all or most of the family inheritance).

In the Ranma 1/2 world, though, it is whoever marries Ranma that gets the Dojo, and it has nothing to do with age, so IMO, that really doesn't fit into your stereotype theory.

[yoshmaster5]

dunno...

I'm supposed to be, "Charming and seductive"

and...

no way.... i have NEVER acted like that...

Which birth order is supposed to be like that? Last-born?

youngest. ^_^

[lemonusagi125]

Personally, I think this is a very lucky use of sterotypes. Its not really a science, but since so many people are affected in similar ways and share similar experiences because of their birth order it makes it appear this way.
This subject really interests me and I've read a lot about it. I think part of it has to do with the fact that im a middle child, and there isn't as much information on us as the rest of the birth orders, and a lot of its contradictory anyways (nya nya, can't pin US down! ).
So much of the middle childs personality has to do with how their older siblings acts, then how they react to it, but it always seems like we take after one of two extremes: we can either be a lot more rebellious than our siblings (that whole middle child doesnt get enough attention thing), or incredibly obedient. It goes on, either perfect peace keepers or fire starters, incredibly shy or incredibly outgoing. for that last one I'm both, its hard for me to talk to people, but i defintiley(sp?) have a lot more close friends than either of my siblings. I think that still plays into the whole middle child doesn't get enough attention, so they have to turn elsewhere to get it thing.
Whew, that was a long post. Not bad for my first shot!

[Tiff]

quite frankly, I think the stereotypes are developed according to the attitudes of the parents. If a parent spoils their youngest, then that youngest will grow up to be a spoiled brat. If the parent constantly compares a younger sibling with an older sibling, or a middle sibling with the other siblings, then the one compared will always feel inadequate. And, of course, if a parent ignores the middle sibling, that child will feel left out and completely isolated from their other two siblings. It's just a matter of environment, and how that child is treated, IMO.
I can give proof of my theory, using myself as an example. I was spoiled as the youngest child and the only daughter, so I'm spoiled as hell today. I love to receive gifts, and I expect to be doted upon by those who love me. It's not a good trait, but that's who I am. But, my parents also constantly held these high standards for me in terms of succeeding and education, because two brothers had major accomplishments. (One as Valedictorian of his high school, and the other overcame drugs and graduated with honors from a military school). So, they constantly rode my ass, and when I got to the point where I made nothing but A's, they stopped praising me because they expected it. That turned me into a robot. I produced the A's, and stopped making an extra effort or enjoying myself. It got to the point to where I HAVE to have praise to feel good about something I've done. It's how I am. Ask Dan. Everytime I make a graphic, I must hear more than "that's nice."

[Akarui Kibuno]

Whoah...

Well, I don't know much about those stereotypes, but I sorta feel they must be "true" in some way.

I'm the oldest, first born. I'm 20 now and my mother gives a lot to me because she used to have very little money and it's still the same now, but she can do more things and I think she wants to compensate for all the things I didn't get when I was a child.

Problem is now I have four sisters. My first sister, who used to be the middle one when we were three children, is now still considered as the middle one: she's the one who's asked for most and takes cares of some things, though she'd like to get away from it now cause she doesn't feel free.

The one who used to be the last one, my second sister, is still kinda like a last one. She gets some things, and my mom couldn't spoil her when she was little but now she tries to, that is, for example, we don't have money but each time we go shopping she gets a manga volume (and built a huge collection thanks to that).

My third and fourth sisters form a "second group". 9 years separated my second sister from the third one, and five years after that, poof, fourth sister. The fourth one, is a 5 years old spoilt brat. I really think she is. Whenever she does something "wrong", I can't really say anything cause my mom says she won't obey me (which is right, though she won't unless someone lets me try).

And the fourth sister is only 4 months old so I can't say much about that, she's the lovely baby everyone cares for :p

*phew that was long*

[Rainbow]

Well, one of the reasons I don't respect the "birth order" theory that much is because of Dr. Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book. He follows his theories WAY too much in dealing with people. In his book, he said that he wanted to get off an airplane because the two pilots were both last-borns. He's a last-born himself! Geez! They MUST be safe if they're pilots, anyway, since they wouldn't have gotten the job if they were irresponsible.

Of course, then the birth order stereotypes gives me another one to play with breaking in my characters...I like to make up characters who are siblings who BREAK the stereotypes! (there are some who fit them, too, by the way)

[Tiff]

*shrug* I think we're all looking a little too much into it. My final belief is simply that stereotypes can only exist so long as there is someone to live up to them.

[Anthy]

I'm a youngest/only child. The closest sibling is ten years older than I am, and we rarely ever interacted.

I'm self-reliant because of the only child thing, and I loooove attention and being spoiled by my parents. I have issues sometimes with non-family members getting me things because I worry it might make me dependant and needy or something. ^^;; I do love doting from those I care about, but I don't expect it. It does sometimes get annoying. I'm pretty much like what Tiff described, except that my other siblings didn't accomplish what hers did, and I rarely have contact with them. They were fairly normal.

[Artemis Lover]

I personally HATE birth order stereotypes. I am the youngest, but I am not some whiny brat baby that gets others in trouble and always gets what she wants. I act a little more like the oldest stereotype, because I am friendly to adults and a babysitter-type nerd.

[DreamEmpress]

I'm not really sure I fit any sterotype in regard to this. I was born the oldest, but so many times it felt like I was an only child. My sister is handicapped so my parents have spent most of my life dealing mostly with her. Oh I was treated well and my dad spoiled me with gifts and mom would counter balance that with strict discipline.

Because my sister needed their attention more, I tried to stay out of trouble and do as well as I could in school. I wasn't praised as much as I would have liked by mom growing up. She always assumed that I knew she was proud.

Basically I'm responsible and at times take on a parenting role in the house. I'm not sure if any of this is fitting in or breaking the mold. However, I do agree that these things are only results of one's growing up.

[Ni-ban Neko]

This kind of thing is why I utterly loathe pop psychology...people write books and promote them as if they're good science, without any sort of research to back them up.

That rant aside, while quite a few psychologists over the years (the earliest I've heard of is Alfred Adler around the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries) have proposed birth order theories of personality in one form or another, there aren't any published studies that I'm aware of that back them up. Until there are published studies, it's theory at best.

[jupiter23]

*shrug* I think we're all looking a little too much into it. My final belief is simply that stereotypes can only exist so long as there is someone to live up to them.

I agree. I am the oldest child in my family, and I don't believe I fit the oldest child stereotype. I don't even like stereotyping anyway, and try to do it as little as possible.

[Janice_of_TeamRocket]

I am the oldest. See if this description fits the sterotype:
I've been called more immature than my younger sister.
I feel like I'm the servant of my siblings.
I can be the stupid one.
And the gullible one. (Janice, whack me now.)
My friends are mostly younger sisters.
Or boys.

[AnimatedEvey12]

My older siblings are technically half-siblings (their father is not my father, my mom married someone else and had three kids with him, divorced...and met my bio-dad ). I have two older sisters and one older brother all in their 30s. The eldest was really bratty and always getting into trouble and had a bunch of boyfriends. The middle (my only brother) was a huge cry baby, whined when he didn't get what he want. The youngest was quiet, smart and the only one who graduated from college (in Mexico that is).

Funny story I'll share-the youngest was the favorite of my grandma (my siblings lived most of their life with grandma instead of my mom, she came to the U.S. at the time). One day my brother (the middle child) was sitting watching TV and he leaves his spot while my youngest sister took his spot. When he gets back he sees that she's watching the TV and he gets mad. He tells grandma and grandma doesn't believe him, so she throws a coffee cup at him, he dodges it and my uncle is coming in and he gets hit by the coffee cup. [/offtopic]

Anyways, I am the youngest out of four for my mother and my father's only child. Although my mother usually tells people that I'm the only child, and people are like 'OH! So you must be spoiled!' Uhhh, not exactly. I really hate the stereotype of only children being spoiled and lonely. 20/20 actually did some research and found out that only children are not any lonelier than children who have siblings. And apparently only children get better grades than children who have siblings (but of course not all).