Do you believe in "first born advantage"?

Question

Are first borns in the family more likely to be successful than the rest? Why?

Answer 1

I think 1st borns "usually" have more responisbility placed on them at a younger age than children of other birth orders. the sooner someone learns to handle responsilbility, the more succesful they can be.

I don't normally comment on others comments....but to the poster that said parents are typically less enthusiastic about their younger children......I can only assume that person has no children because that is SO not true.

Answer 2

I would ask how would you describe success?
There are four children in my family.
The three eldest are/were alcoholics.
One has passed away in an alcohol related car accident.
The two remaining eldest are battling varied forms of depression and have no apparent desire to deal with their alcoholism.
We all smoked grass when we were younger and I smoked into my thirties and there was a time when I smoked way too much for my health. My behavior was never a cause for embarrassment unlike the other two/three.
My sister is married, owns a home, has two kids, her husband works for a high-end construction company, they do pretty well financially.My sister hasn't many, if any, friends she can confide in.
My brother is married, for now, has a decent job in an industrial type construction co., makes a decent living but drinks his paycheck, owns a home that his wife pays for and is now becoming more and more verbally abusive to her. My brother only has fellow drunks for friends.
I and still finalizing my separation from my partner (lesbians here, present and accounted for) in both a business and romantic life. I am financially devastated and on the verge of bankruptcy. I have had to move home with my parents. It's never easy living with ones parents. But I don't, well very rarely and when I do it's one or two at the max, drink or do drugs. Have friends that care about me and that I am on an even par with. We councel each other when needed. But mostly when just have a good time. I am now working on getting my financial house back in order.
So you do the math. Who enjoys the greater "success"?

Answer 3

Later-born children have some advantages. They usually talk and walk sooner and toilet-train more easily because they have older siblings to try and imitate. They also learn to stand up to bullying from the oldest, and that can make them stronger in other situations as well.

If children are very close in age, the younger ones may have subtle disadvantages because the mother's body has fewer reserves, so the fetus may have poorer nutrition. If at least two years come between pregnancies (not births--two years from the birth of the older to the start of the next pregnancy), that is no longer a problem, and excellent maternal nutrition can practically eliminate the disadvantage even in more closely-spaced pregnancies.

Parents tend to intervene more to solve problems for their first child. Later kids are more likely to have to work things out for themselves or with the help of the older sibling.

I know high-achieving and not-high-achieving first-borns, Ditto for later-borns. It's not your birth order, it's YOU who determine your success in life.

Answer 4

I'm a first born and no I'm not as "successful" as my sister.
My sister & brother in law both have good jobs, new cars, and take a vacation every year. They have 2 kids.

I have 7 kids, an old house & cars. Our "vacations" are camping out at local parks. 2 of the kids have medical disorders. My husband has a good job (thank goodness!).

Success is a matter of opinion. If all of my kids end up being happy and secure people, then I'll be a success too!

Answer 5

It kind of depends on what you mean by success. I've head it as firstborns tend to be leaders, presidents, stuff like that. You know, they take charge. I didn't think much of it at first, but then I became president of a big club in high school and organized some trips to Dallas, and my friends call me a mommy o_O I'm a first born. I don't blame it on being a first born because that would be pointless. It's just me!

If you're talking about first borns, what about second borns? They have all the fun :D

Answer 6

It doesn't matter if you BELIEVE or not...
It's just... "WHAT IS!"... some things we just have to accept!

"First borns" usually have more responsibilities earlier in life than siblings....they are left to "look out for" younger children...they have to "accept responsibility" for helping out around the house...
they help "teach" the younger ones the "how to's" they reinforce their OWN learning by "teaching" the younger children how to read, count, recognize colors,objects...
First borns ALSO reinforce their own social skills by teaching the younger children how to play games...and HOW TO WIN at games!!! See the connection?
It is only a natural progression then, that the FIRST BORN will succeed!!! He has had many years experience in the things that it takes to be successful!!!

Answer 7

Not that way in my family. The youngest is fantasticly successful. As to my children...the most successful is the 2nd one. So the stereotype doesn't fit here.

Answer 8

The oldest one has the most responsibilities of the most. The youngest is always spoiled. I am spoiled because I'm the youngest. My brother who is the oldest, is always being challenged and look at as if his the father of the family. So, he has to do everything right.

Answer 9

I'm the youngest of three, and my brother, the oldest, is definitely the least successful.

Answer 10

I believe it, because I am an example of it.

If you are your parent's first tot, they are always OMGing over every minor acheivement you make. This fosters confidence in adulthood.

In every subsequent child, however, parents are somewhat less enthusiastic.