Psychology: what it says about you if you are the youngest, middle or oldest child

strength of character
Youngest, oldest or middle child? What does that say about your personality

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Have you ever wondered if your birth order also has something to do with the way you developed? According to one psychologist, that might be the case.

The first child is the rebel who still has to get her way with her parents because of everything. The: second in line has it easier because discussions have already been held and they can concentrate on other things – and the third child may already have been so relaxed with their parents that they can try out a lot more without hesitation than the siblings before.

Some of the different theories about the characters of children are probably like this or something similar. Looking at research, firstborns are more likely to be leaders than their younger siblings. According to the US psychologist Laurie Kramer, this does not necessarily have to be the case. Instead, the birth order often has an influence on the character, but no one is better or worse than the other. Whether the first, second or third child is not decisive for which path a person ultimately chooses. In essence, all children have leadership potential. But the environment in which they grow up determines whether they develop this, the psychologist explains to CNBC Make it. However, according to Kramer, birth status can have the following effects.

Youngest, oldest or middle child? What does that say about your personality

The first child: Independent and self-confident

Of course, not only firstborns but also only children can possess this outstanding quality that makes them good leaders. With the first child, it is often the case that parents are very involved and try to interpret every emotion of the young child, to support and protect them. As a result, an only child or first-born often feels very accepted and empowered, according to psychologist Kramer. This often leads to more self-confidence and personal responsibility in the child. The eldest siblings would mostly benefit from being among the smaller ones as the leader, she goes on to explain. This sometimes also means that they show and teach their younger family members their latest findings – which means that they also learn something.

The youngest child: try and discover

Many interests and many opportunities waiting around every corner. Life is full of potential for the youngest children, often as they test not only their own experiences in family life but also observe those of their siblings. With the third child, the parents often have a lot to deal with at once. Because with several children, the house is filled with even more life, literally. With the youngest child, parents have already learned through their previous experience that the little ones may be unobserved for a short time even in stressful moments and that they can be more independent than they think.

Younger children are often quicker to get privileges that their older siblings may have had to argue for. You can drive to school faster on your own or come with us into the deep area of ​​the pool. Because they learn a lot by observing others and grow with their experiences. As a result, they are often the discoverers and good observers who recognize what is going on in the house. They are also usually good at finding and pursuing their own interests.

The middle child: communication artists

Those who grow up in the middle often find their strength in being able to form good relationships with others. According to the US psychologist Kramer, they are also extremely good at communicating. Especially with the middle child, it is often the case that they feel left out when the newborn arrives. The struggle for attention is therefore often particularly great in the middle child – which can lead to them taking a completely different path to their siblings in order to stand out. Feeling that they may not have received enough attention can make them express themselves particularly well and clearly, and make them appear very helpful to others.

It doesn’t always matter when you were born

Some of these characteristics of children can be true, but of course this is not always the case. Every person and every family deals differently with the upbringing and growing up of children. And it is also possible that a child acquires one of the other strengths or maybe even all of them together – or completely different ones that will help him/her on the path of life. According to Kramer, these are just general statements, but none of them necessarily apply. Rather, it is important to see that every child has leadership potential in one way or another.

Source used: Psychology Today

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