Studies have shown parents want their firstborns to have high status jobs such as lawyers and doctors but they relax on the choices for other siblings. The coaching we get concerning job, affects our achievement and self-esteem.
The position of first born is very much geared towards high achievers. 21 out the 23 first astronauts in space were first born children. In a study looking at the birth place order of CEO’s it was found that 43 percent of them were firstborn children, 33 percent were middle born and 23 percent were the youngest children in their family.
On the other hand, the youngest sibling in the family may be the one to engage in more reckless behavior such has dangerous sports including sky diving, motor cycle racing, sky jumping, and even football.
According to a survey taken in a high school, the younger siblings said they were more sentimental and were less judgmental than their older siblings.
The same survey reinforced the studies on firstborns who were geared towards being high achievers as this survey indicated these students rated themselves as being perfectionists.
However, studies show that younger children get better grades. This is because they are mentored by the older siblings; they have watched how their older siblings overcome challenges and learn from them.
Strangely, the very first studies on birth order never included females.
Nevertheless, Montrealers need to know that these studies, especially the earliest ones did not account for the size of the family. Most of the studies analyzed firstborns, middle children and then the youngest children. If families were bigger say a family of six or 12, they were not included. Larger families will certainly have different impact upon the personality of the children within them.
Firstborns
These children tend to be conscientious, ambitious, organized and—in relationships—dominant. Says