What's your birth order
 

Have you ever met someone, and just knew that they were the oldest child, or an only child based on their personality? In some cases, your birth order in your family, plays a factor in your personality.

Which are you, and how true is it?


Oldest Child
In school, first-borns tend to work harder for grades than do later-borns. They often grow to be more competitive and to have higher educational and career aspirations. Any enumeration of prominent people, eminent scholars, even presidents of the United States contains a high percent of first-borns.

Here are some personality traits that are common in first-borns:

Confident: All that attention over everything you do makes you more likely to believe in yourself.

Determined: Because your family might depend on you to get things done, you're probably good about finishing the projects you start.

Born Leader: Whether on the soccer field or in the classroom, you are often in charge. Oldest children are usually given the responsibility of baby-sitting and taking care of the house, so they get early training in being the boss.

Organized: You probably know where to find things, like your books, your Mom's keys, or your homework assignment. Even if your folders are a little messy, it's likely that you have a system.

Eager to Please: It's easy for oldest children to fall into this routine because they started out with a very strong need for Mom and Dad's approval, and eventually this spilled over to other adults such as teachers or coaches. When there's a job to be done, it's usually a first-born who jumps up and says "I'll do it!"

Likes to Avoid Trouble: When people expect a great deal from you, it can be hard to speak up or complain about something. You might not want to be seen as causing problems or less than "perfect."

Middle Children
A good description of middle children is balanced. Middle children are good mediators and have superior cooperation skills. They don't have their parents all to themselves or get their own way. Therefore, they learn to negotiate and compromise. Middle children often make excellent managers and leaders because of these skills.

Here are some personality traits that are common in middle children:

Roll with It: Middle children often handle disappointments better. Say you strike out in softball and lose the game. If you were a first-born, you might feel guilty all day, but if you're a middle child, you'll probably find yourself just laughing it off.

Great Negotiator: Middles can be great at seeing both sides of an issue. After all, they're in the perfect place for it!

Lots of Loyal Friends: Middles tend to make friends easily. Once they have them, they often work harder to keep them. They're usually good at keeping secrets, too.

Youngest Children
Youngest children in the family are typically outgoing and great at motivating other people. They are also affectionate, uncomplicated and sometimes a little absent minded.

Studies show that babies of the family gravitate toward vocations that are people oriented. Good sales people are often last borns.
Here are some personality traits that are common in youngest children:

Persistent: When it comes to a goal, many youngests just won't give up!

A Great Storyteller: Whether it's true or not, youngest kids can spin a mighty good yarn.

Affectionate: Youngest children often have plenty of hugs and kisses to give out.


Only Children "Only children" spend a lot of time with grown-ups, so they can often be confident and well-spoken. Sometimes people even think of them as "little adults"! At the same time, they can find themselves under a ton of pressure to succeed.

Here are some common personality traits of "only children":

Confident: Only children are usually not afraid to make decisions and are comfortable with their opinions.

Pays Attention to Detail: They like things to be organized and are often on time.

Good in School: Onlies tend to read a lot and have a good memory for facts and figures.

It's MINE!: Only children might have difficulty sharing or going second because they have always been first in line for everything.

Overly Critical: While being a perfectionist is not such a bad thing, you may have a tendency to take this to extremes and be really critical of yourself and others.

Youngest child here...and, whoa. I'm not the best story-teller, or much more than a decent one even, but the rest of it hits dead-on.

Which are you, and how true is it?
I am the oldest child.

Oldest Child
In school, first-borns tend to work harder for grades than do later-borns. They often grow to be more competitive and to have higher educational and career aspirations. Any enumeration of prominent people, eminent scholars, even presidents of the United States contains a high percent of first-borns.

I don't know about all of that but I got pretty good grades in school.


Here are some personality traits that are common in first-borns:

Confident: All that attention over everything you do makes you more likely to believe in yourself.
No not me.

Determined: Because your family might depend on you to get things done, you're probably good about finishing the projects you start.
Sometimes. Not all of the time.

Born Leader: Whether on the soccer field or in the classroom, you are often in charge. Oldest children are usually given the responsibility of baby-sitting and taking care of the house, so they get early training in being the boss.

No, I am not a born leader.

Organized: You probably know where to find things, like your books, your Mom's keys, or your homework assignment. Even if your folders are a little messy, it's likely that you have a system.

I would say that I am pretty organized.

Eager to Please: It's easy for oldest children to fall into this routine because they started out with a very strong need for Mom and Dad's approval, and eventually this spilled over to other adults such as teachers or coaches. When there's a job to be done, it's usually a first-born who jumps up and says "I'll do it!"

This is me I can never say no to anyone. I want everyone to be happy and if that means me not being happy in the process so be it.

Likes to Avoid Trouble: When people expect a great deal from you, it can be hard to speak up or complain about something. You might not want to be seen as causing problems or less than "perfect."

This is so me. When I fight with someone I hate it. I would rather just suck it up and not say a word than have an argument and then I hold it all in and it gets worse and then I end up blowing up.

middle child here, and I must say that it seems to match me pretty decently, but taken to the extreme. I often have some friends get annoyed with me because i seem to "roll with it" much more than they can understand (the friends that usually have this problem are only children).

I am a middle. The description was so complimentary that it is hard for me to say that it describes me. I would like to think I am a good negotiator. I am very easy going and consider myself to blessed with many loyal friends. Without being too boastful, I think it describes me fairly accurately.

Oldest to a T... the other descriptions fit my two younger brothers respectively. But things like this always seem to agree with my life. (for better or worse)

Middle here.
All three choices encompass my personality in some way, though.

Hmmmmm?

That wasn't even close to what I'm like.

Middle, but only by 4 minutes. I guess none of those really fit me! Ha ha.

-Lasereth

i'm the older of two, but because my family dynamic wasn't quite what was intended by those who wrote the article, i don't really fit the mold.

I'm the middle child, I hate it when people always compare me and my brother to my "oh so perfect" eldest sister....And yeah, I am pretty good at negotiating. :D

middle child, 2 of 3 in birth order

Oldest.. hit me pretty dead-on, I think (well, comparing myself to friends and my younger brother).

im an oldest but i have all the qualities or setbacks of an onl child for some reason

Im an only child.

Most the discription is correct aside from "thats MINE!" and "does well in school" :). I was horrible in highschool and right now im at an average of 3.0 in college, but the rest were spot on.

"The Birth Order Book" by Kevin Leman is an enriched version of these characteristics, and makes for a fun read. I really enjoyed his insights.

I'm the oldest, and the characteristics describe me and my siblings quite well!

As with most variations on horoscopes, the statements are vague enough that most people will match whatever category they are in. With bonus pseudoscience this time!

Youngest of 2. I'm 25, my brother is 10 yrs. older than me. I feel just like an only child because of the age difference....;)

Only Children "Only children" spend a lot of time with grown-ups, so they can often be confident and well-spoken. Sometimes people even think of them as "little adults"! At the same time, they can find themselves under a ton of pressure to succeed.

Here are some common personality traits of "only children":

Confident:

Nope, but has really gotten better as I age.


Pays Attention to Detail:

I like to be on time, but I dont' expect it. And I rarely care enough to sweat details

Good in School:


I was horrible in school, but I have a good memory.



It's MINE!:

I was like this earlier in life, but having a kid teaches you to share stuff.



Overly Critical:

Not me at all. I consider ppl's performance or decsions none of my business.

I'm my parent's oldest child. I fit into some of the descriptions, though I may be lacking a bit of confidence.

I'm the oldest child and that exactly fits my description. When I looked at the youngest child description for my sister, it was completely off. The only characteristic my sister showed was persistance.

Middle - but have the success and confidence of an older. I was the one that always babysat and kept the house clean when I was younger. I was the first to graduate college and get my masters. My older sister is now completing hers, but way later in life as she raised her kids first. Interesting, but not always true.

I'm the oldest, but I don't really see myself fitting with those characteristics. Maybe because I was an only child for 9 years until my sister came along and my brother and I are 14 years apart. I think I'm a mix of Oldest and Only Child.

I'm the youngest of two kids, but my brother and I are so far apart in age that I have traits of being the youngest and the only. Well, mostly the only child. My bro has traits of being an only child. all the other suff is false :)

Eldest here by 6 years - only 2 children in my family.

Confident: Yup

Determined: YES ver persisitant. Sometimes to the point where I'll keep going even when I know it's a lost cause.

Born Leader: Yup - A couple of my friends in college called me Sarge because I'd jumped in during hectic circumstances when no one else did.

Organized: Mostly well organized. I Hate clutter so am always attempting to organize it.

Eager to Please: Very much so. Peer pressure was a problem for me until I learned to recognize it and not cave to it.

Likes to Avoid Trouble: I used to always keep quiet instead of confronting a situation. I have learned this is not the way to go in my marriage.


I am also a Good Mediator - from the middle child. I mediated between my parents are many occasions. I was the peacekeeper in my family. Still am sometimes.

I did find myself under a lot of pressure to succeed. I still am in some cases. My brother and I still live in the same small town as my parents and they half expect my younger brother to screw things up. They're always there to bail him out. If hubby and I screw up though they tell me "You should have known better." and let us sink or swim. In some ways I've been glad they haven't bailed us (hubby and I) out when we've been in trouble because they tend to expect "payback" in some way or another. We can say now that we've taken care of ourselves.

Youngest... but I follow the only/eldest pattern best. Brother is 4.5 years older...

Oldest

Oldest Child
Work harder for grades: yes
Competitive: yes as long as it is not sports


Confident:I am now. A few years ago it was a different story.

Determined: Yup. Stubborn as all hell would be more accurate.

Born Leader: Yup. At times I refuse. My current job I am a grunt and not the manager like all my former jobs.

Organized: Sort of. If I had the time I would be.

Eager to Please: Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.

Likes to Avoid Trouble: Yes. I'm paranoid of fucking things up.

I am youngest of eight.,and meh,I don't think any of it quite fits.

Spolied,and sick of them being bigger than me,yea?

I'm the oldest.

Work harder for grades: Yes, that's me.

Competitive: Euhhhh...not really.

Confident: I'm a very nervous and scared person, so not really.

Determined: On some things, yes.

Born Leader: Well, I guess I take school assignments into my own hands just because I don't like to wait for others to be all slow. But I've never been a leader of an organisation, really.

Organized: Yeah, I know where my stuff is, but I'm a bit messy just because I lack the motivation to clean a room that will always be messy (I share my room with my messy sister).

Eager to Please: Pretty much always, except for when it comes to my parents asking me if it I wanna do something boring like go up to the store, when I could be doing something else that's more fun.

Likes to Avoid Trouble: Yes. Absolutely. I feel like a DUMBASS when I mess things up.

Re: What's your birth order
 

For the most part...yes, I would say this is true.

Absolutely! To a fault. Just ask my wife. :rolleyes:

No...and yes. The second part is true. I read a lot, and have a good memory for facts and figures. That did not, however, equate to doing well in school...at all.

To my chagrin...yes, this is true. Hey, at least I recognize it in myself.

Oh, abso-freakin'-lutely. I drive my wife and kids crazy with my perfectionism.

Overall...I'd have to say that it's accurate.

Used to more in the past, now I'm just way to much of a curmudgeon, I want things done my way, because I am right after all. Negotiating? Not a problem, when properly motivated, I could broker a mid east peace settlement.
I can laugh anything off, while my Irish Catholic upbringing leaves me susceptible to guilt, it doesn't last long.
I'm great at secrets, more people count on me as a friend, than I do them. I don't make friends easily , nor do I have a lot of them, but there are lots who tell me all their troubles because I am usually pretty good at getting to the crux of the problem, that and I won't gossip about most stuff. I'll always tell on me, but if it's important to someone else, it goes to my grave.

Even though my parents swore they didn't compare us kids, I always heard from them and from teachers through out grammar school, that I wasn't as smart as my sister, I wasn't as nice as my sister, not as cooperative.. oh bite me. I was also fresh. It wasn't until my family moved my softmore year in high school, that I really came into my own, because my sister an I finally had a level playing field - teachers didn't know either of us and had no comparisons. Plus I discovered sports which really helped my confidence. My younger brother had it tougher because he had to follow in my footsteps, but luckily, my family moved his sophmore year in high school, so he had no teachers that my sister or I had.

My wife and I are both youngest children, and we are complete opposites of each other. A couple of the things in the list are definitely me and not her, and vice versa.

I'm the oldest of two boys, the characteristics listed are awfully accurate and I can see how a lot of those personality traits would come from growing up with a younger brother.
I'm confident almost to the point of being egomanical, very determined, I don't like to fail. I'm a good leader but I usually prefer not to lead (following's much easier). I'm organized, in the 'I have my own system' kinda way. I'm always eager to please, especially in my professional life. And although I'm fiercely competitive, I prefer to avoid conflict.

His website has an interesting profile that you can take, that also discusses how you match up with someone else. You have to register with the site, because they email the results, but it was pretty interesting.
http://www.drleman.com/

Middle child here, and that is so true! I was always the peacemaker between older and younger siblings that never got along.

youngest here, with one older sister, wish i had a younger sibling so i could have layed the smackdown on someone growing up.:)

i'm a middle child...or at least one of them.
most of that description of middle kids seem to fit me, except i only have a few close friends because i'm not very open. i don't trust people much.

i voted youngest because i was up untill last year... i really fit into all the catagories... im a leader, always eager to please others, very confident, i aviod conflict & trouble at all cost, im a great sales man, easy going, the best of negotiators, and quite affectionate.

everyone is different, families are all different. other factors are involved in development.

I'm an only, and that is scarily accurate.......

Only child here. The description is pretty good except I'm stupid and have no confidence.