Hey everyone and welcome to my blog. I will be talking about the myth regarding birth order and that it determines intelligence and personality traits. I will mention both aspects but focus much more on the personality traits.
So what does the myth say? Suppose you were the first born of the family. That means that you are the favorite and most intelligent child and are the most likely to succeed in a high end job such as a doctor or a CEO. And I’m sure most of you have heard of the neglected middle child. It is said that the middle child of the family is mysterious and doesn’t fit in very well with the family and may try to find a job opposite the oldest. And what about the baby of the family? They are said to be the wild child with a free spirit that gets along with almost everyone they meet.
As a middle child myself, I will be disproving this myth to show that each person has their own unique personality that is not determined by the order they were born into their family.
Interesting topic! While I would initially think this myth was baseless, my best friend actually is in the same sort of familial "mold" as described by this myth! So we'll see how this pans out!
ReplyDeleteIt'll be great to see what you research on this. I wonder how a study of this would be approached.
Hey, this seems like there is a lot of potential in this myth! However I would like to ask what exactly you mean about the youngest child being a "wild spirit"? Also, I wonder if certain aspects of these perceived personalities are derived from the different ways parents treat their children rather than them being born with them? (sort of a nature vs nurture idea)
ReplyDeleteThis is a really interesting topic to me since I've heard a lot about this myth. Since I don't have any brothers or sisters, I'm wondering if there's any information on only children being similar to a certain birth order in families with siblings. I look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a cool topic that I am totally invested in. As a child in a family of 6 children, I totally think that my personality was shaped by the order I was born in. This might be just one of those myths I refuse to let go. It is far too entertaining when it appears true to not believe
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ReplyDeleteHey Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThe long link below is from a scholarly article providing a cross-cultural perspective supporting a part of your myth. In this article, the author’s describe a longitudinal study on Chinese Americans and their child. It was observed that first born children were more obligated to their parents than children born later.
http://firstsearch.oclc.org/WebZ/DARead?key=0893-3200%2528200906%252923%253A3%253C396%253A%253E%26fsapp2-60850-ga91k9f1ueyvhh%2660f96fc862e645b5c7a4db82744dc65191be5c514bc89d2242c848f5a6820afc&sessionid=0&db=PsycARTICLES_FT&format=PDF
Awesome topic! I really like this myth, even if it isn't true! It relates to me because I am the youngest child. Great topic! I loved your presentation in class, also.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting topic! I was intrigued by your presentation in class today. This was partly because this is a myth I'm familiar with, and felt applied to my life. Also, I had heard a different side of what you presented, giving the negative aspects of each position. For example, with the oldest being a stick in the mud, the middle child ignored, and the youngest unruly.
ReplyDeleteBrittany,
ReplyDeleteI am a reporter at the Deseret News, in Salt Lake City. I am writing a story on the science of birth order and whether or not there is validity behind it, as well as why these types of studies intrigue us. I stumbled upon your blog and wondered if you would be interested in a five-minute interview. I'd just like to hear your take on it - in 2 or 3 sentences.
I look forward to hearing from you. I’m on deadline for Wednesday and would prefer to speak with you tomorrow or Wednesday, if possible. Thank you.
Rachel Lowry
Reporter Intern
Deseret News
801.237.2128