Birth Order Research

Most of us, either with our own siblings or our children, have heard comments about the relationship between birth order and personality features over the years.  Generally, the oldest child is considered to be a leader and a high achiever; the youngest child may be more creative, or a bit of a risk-taker; and the middle child, often referred to as the "peace-keeper," is....well, stuck in the middle.  As psychologists, we know that personality development is complex and that each child is unique, regardless of whether they are the "baby" of the family, the oldest, or somewhere in between.  New research reinforces the idea that birth order really doesn't shape personality.  A study of 20,000 adults from the United States, Great Britain and Germany reveals that there is no pattern of personality traits based on birth order.  You can read more about these findings at the link below:

http://healthfinder.gov/News/Article/704381/study-challenges-theory-that-birth-order-determines-personality?utm_source=October+30%2C+2015-NASET+Week+in+Review&utm_campaign=10-30-15+WIR&utm_medium=email