I heard about this test scientist were doing to see if birth order effects personality, IQ, character...?

Question

What were the results for this, and do scientists actually have any sort of proof that birth order is a factor in determining what a child acts like, or what kind or personality they have. if birth order does have anything to do with this sort of thing, what traits do people in specific birth places generally have? (1st born, last born...)

Answer 1

I've always been fascinated in birth-order and the effect on personality traits. Lots of info--I was a therapist with very troubled adolescents for 21 yrs and what almost always held true is that first-borns are authority-oriented. They, as children, identify with their parents; second-borns, with their elder sib. Spacing plays a part, also. Can't remember exactly, but definitely 5 yrs difference, it doesn't seem to matter. 1st-borns identify and become very much like their parents--authoritarian and struggling to be the best; brightest; etc. Next born identify with kids...studies list the areas of work they go into--art, acting, etc., etc.---I once worked with a group of five adolescents, 14-19 yrs of age. I was talking re the importance of ATTACHMENT to the parent. And showed an old film of Dr. Spitz' nursery of infants of women prisons. Supreme depression and grief!!! After the film, four of the five young men had tears in their eyes! One more expressive y. man, second born, told of how he realized he had identified (Attached) to his oldest brother--instead of his mother. Then, when the brother left home, the young man said, "That left NO ONE for me!!" Younger siblings tend to attach to older sibs. Running with the kids was more important to him than what a teacher thought/said! From experience, 1st borns typically want to be in management position--or work alone!! But not together in group-oriented problem-solving! Sibling-attached people love group decision, discussions, informal discussion groups etc., etc.I think studies say they go into entertainment, artists, etc.; while 1st borns go into management; independent research; leadership of all kinds.