Birth Order...Do You Believe It Effects Us?
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
Australia
May 12, 2008 5:03pm CST
The other day when I took my mother to her dr's appointment, I picked up this Time magazine and began reading an article it had in there regarding birth order and how it can effect us as individuals. I didn't really get to finish the article but from what I did read, it was pretty interesting. Here's the link to the article:
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1672715,00.html
It basically gives examples of famous families and how their birth order may or may not have effected what type of individuals they were and their personalities. Honestly, I do think that birth order does effect us to a certain degree but I don't believe that it is as significant as some claim. I definitely think that it can effect confidance levels and things of that nature, in certain situations but not in all.
For me, I'm the third child in a family of three girls and one boy. I'm the youngest of the girls and my brother is the youngest in the family. I really don't feel that this has had much effect on my life but I do think that it has had some. For instance, I was the youngest girl and so, for most of my life I was mostly the last to do everything when it came to things that girls experience while growing up. I always felt like I was trying to catch up and some days I still do. Especially in the case of my sister Vicky, who was the second oldest. She did everything first and still does sometimes. This can be hard at times but for the most part my sisters and I are pretty close and we don't let this effect us too much.
What is your opinion on birth order and how do you think it has effected your life and the person you have or are becoming?
2 people like this
10 responses
@sunkistroses401 (281)
• United States
13 May 08
i dont really think it effects us... i am number 2 of 7 and i really dont care i dont think i would have been any different if i had been number 1 or number 7 i dont think it really matters
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
You're most likely right but it's definitely an interesting concept to think about...
@sunkistroses401 (281)
• United States
13 May 08
yes it is although i never heard anything about it until i read your post and the article i will probably be looking into it more
@katbalu102 (377)
• Philippines
15 May 08
hi sassykittykat,
yes i do believe that birth order plays a role in our lives. i have 2 other siblings me being in the middle. i cant seem to explain it well now but i do know that it affects a childs confidence, independence, how an individual deals with things and etc. the eldest child being the 1st one born into the family gets a lot of attention from parents and family members and usually very protected and etc. 2nd child not so much but the family is still happy of course. and with the 3rd, 4th and so on parents are much more leninet towards them on a few things since they have already went throught with it with the oldest and 2nd. ive also noticed that with younger siblings there is always 'competition' with the older ones, whose got higher grades, whose stronger stuff like that. and with youngest children they get a lot of help from older siblings and protected by older siblings.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
15 May 08
Where I do agree with you some, I don't think this is the case everytime. Sometimes circumstances change things but I do believe birth order at times has a lot to do with how we turn out. Thanks!
@tarams98020 (170)
• United States
13 May 08
I do believe that it does affect us. In a 2 parent household it would be more effective. But if a younger children needs to take on the role of the oldest as in my case after my mom passed away..then I would take over the role of the oldest. I still have qualities of the last born..but I also have the qualities of a first born. It just all depends on what the person has gone through in their life...most definetly in their childhood.
I believe that me being a leader of some sorts, especially when it comes to the family, I believe that is where I got being in the first born role for about 8 years.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
14 May 08
Yeah, I really think it depends on individual situations because some situations are not the norm in families, as was yours...
@shewolf52002 (1214)
• United States
13 May 08
Hmm.. I am who I am. Would I still be this way if I were born second or last? It is a good question. I dont know I see similarities between me and my siblings and my own children. There were five of us and I also have five children. So I guess there is at least a little to it.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Well, I think in some cases people are effected by whether or not they are the oldest and youngest but not in all cases. There's definitely something to it to some small degree.
@chrissieatu (1033)
• China
13 May 08
I think the order have some effect on the individuals. I think it's more like a environment influence. I mean when you are the eldest, you will definitely take more responsibility. Thus the eldest always tend to be more mature. While you are the youngest one, sisters and brothers will look after you and you get more protection than the others. Therefore, chances are that you are naive or dependent. But the personality depends a lot on the experience one have.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Yes, I definitely think that experience is the main thing that infleunces the types of adults we become, definitely! Thanks for the great responce!
1 person likes this
@meiteoh (416)
• Switzerland
13 May 08
This article is really interesting because my hubby and I are both the youngest in our families; he has an older sister and me an older brother.
In my case, my brother is six years older and the only comparison I get from people in the difference in our personalities. Even then, that was like when I was 16. If you were to compare the two of us, I'm the one who is more patient, less hot tempered and I like studying/reading, etc.
We are so different; it's like the sun and moon, that you can't even compare the stuff we do - I took a mix of Science and Humanities in high school, my bro took Humanities; I was a straight A student in college, my bro was an average; I like indoor stuff (cooking, crafts, etc), he enjoys outdoor activities...the list goes on and on.
I think being youngest in my family didn't really effect me - people always think I'm spoilt but I still had to do housechores, I still had to carry my own bags and stuff when I was a kid and out with my bro, I still had to work hard for what I got...
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
14 May 08
Yes, it was the same way in my family. I was the youngest of the girls and they always say I'm the most spoiled but I had to do chores and I got the same punishments as my older siblings. My brother who is the youngest never had to do any chores because mom said he was a boy. Of course, my dad is an old fashioned italian who thinks that the men have to be served by the women 
...
In any case, I think how we turn out depends more on individual situations and circumstances more than birth order. However, I do think birth order does have some thing to do with it in certain situations but not all...
...
In any case, I think how we turn out depends more on individual situations and circumstances more than birth order. However, I do think birth order does have some thing to do with it in certain situations but not all...
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
12 May 08
Hello SassyKittyKat,
I agree with you, the order has contributed to one's attitude and behavior. LIke I am the eldest, I learn to do things and help mom and consider that my younger and only sis will be exempted sometimes orbe assigned with lighter task. This was develop when I grow up and become very independent and responsible. My younger sister tends to become a mom's girl and took her some time to adjust especially when we are about to live quite far from our parents to puruse our College!
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Yeah, I can see what you're saying in regards the oldest and the youngest. I noticed that my oldest sisters is definitely the more independant of all of us girls, where I am the most dependant on others for company and other things. It's really all very interesting if you think about it...
@drannhh (15219)
• United States
13 May 08
I think it does have an influence on us. Like you, I am the youngest sibling and spent much of my early life running after and trying to catch up with my older brothers. I think being the youngest preconditioned me to expect other people to be helpful and protective toward me, and probably I get more annoyed with those who don't than somebody with a different birth order might have. I am protective of others, too, but I totally expect people to "play nicely" with me and if they don't I am perfectly capable of going off on them.
I also got used to hand-me downs and that probably set the tone for my being rather frugal in most areas of life. On the other hand, having been the "baby" when I really really want something I totally EXPECT to get it.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Sadly, I'm completely with you on all you just mentioned regarding being the youngest. I have a lot of those same traits at times. I really do think that there is definitely something to this theory on birth order and where it might not be the case for some individuals, it's definitely the case in others...
@Pose123 (21635)
• Canada
12 May 08
Hi SassyKittyKat, Thanks for that interesting article. It's probably more difficult if the older sibling is famous. I am the youngest of nine children, and am now 68 myself. I still have two brothers and one sister living, two are over 80. Being the youngest has never been a problem for me, and our family was and still is very close. I don't know if that's the exception, rather than the rule. It will be interesting to see what others say. Blessings.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Yes, I know what you mean. Most of the time my siblings and I are really very close. I think how a person turns out depends more on other factors rather than their birth order but I could see where birth order could effect an individual in certain situations.
I'm with you, I'm curious to see what others will have to say on the subject. Thanks so much for your comment, I really appreciate it! 
@jewelenterprises (1996)
• Australia
13 May 08
I confess I read the whole article... all three long pages of it.
I can see exactly what they mean. There is evidence of the concept in my own family except for one thing. I am the youngest of my siblings but I am also the most intelligent and successful in the sense that I am the only one who has a steady job and owns their own house (albeit with a mortgage). Though in a way I can thank my ex husband for the house since I could probably never have afforded one on the type of wage I earn.
However, they do state that in dysfunctional families the pattern is broken to a degree. That certainly applied to my family considering my father was very abusive. Apparently that breaks down the bond between parent and child and results in a less predictable pattern. So perhaps that explains the reversal for me.
I do know that I am determined (now more than ever after reading that) to break out of the model of the youngest child.
So, yes, I think it has effected me to some degree.
1 person likes this
@SassyKittyKat (2135)
• Australia
13 May 08
Wow, that's really interesting. Yeah, I can see where being in a disfunctional family can change the pattern a bit because you're not in a normal family situation. This is definitely interesting to hear the diffrent sides and opinions one these and pick up on patterns and things like that. It's so interesting...
