Why first borns fuss, seconds are resilient and youngests like to laugh
How can two or three children in the same family be so different? They are brought up in the same broad social environment, under a similar set of rules and an identical family value system. They also come from the same genetic pool yet they can be so different in personality, interests and achievement. While they may be born into the same family they are not born into the same position. The effects of their birth position have a significant impact on children, their behavior and their personalities. In order to really understand children it is useful to look at how their position in the family impacts on their development.
If we look at the big three in birth order first, middle and youngest we will notice that children born in each position share a similar set of characteristics. Note that birth order presents possibilities only for parents. Also only children share similar birth order characteristics to first borns they are super first borns.
First borns are often more motivated to achieve than later borns. A greater percentage of first borns end up in the professions such as...