Birth Order Psychology
There are many popular beliefs, apparently supported by much popular writing, about the traits that our birth order creates in us. "I was the oldest, so OF COURSE I turned out to be the way I am."
A close and critical look at the scientific and popular literature on this, however, reveals a simple truth. There is far too much variety between families and people to conclude that birth order has any consistent effect on personality at all! Birth order alone has virtually no usefullness in predicting personality.
What is important is how a particular person's position in their own specific family of origin interacted with the specific personality, culture, and real world situation of that family. Approached in this person-specific manner, birth order can be understood as an important part of each person's formative history.
A close and critical look at the scientific and popular literature on this, however, reveals a simple truth. There is far too much variety between families and people to conclude that birth order has any consistent effect on personality at all! Birth order alone has virtually no usefullness in predicting personality.
What is important is how a particular person's position in their own specific family of origin interacted with the specific personality, culture, and real world situation of that family. Approached in this person-specific manner, birth order can be understood as an important part of each person's formative history.
