COMPARISON OF PERSONALITIES

IN TERM OF THEIR ORDINAL

POSITIONS IN FAMILY

Project Report Submittied to Community Department

Hawler Medical University

By

Raveen Ismael Abdullah

BSc in Nursing

1st of April 2017

Contents Table of Figures ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 1

Aim ...................................................................................................................................................... 2

Objectives ........................................................................................................................................... 2

Chapter One: Literature Review ............................................................................................................. 3

1.1. Historical background .................................................................................................................. 3

1.2. Birth Order Theories .................................................................................................................... 3

1.3. Birth order and personality .......................................................................................................... 4

1.4. Birth Order and Intelligence......................................................................................................... 4

1.5. Ordinal Position ............................................................................................................................ 5

1.6. First Child ..................................................................................................................................... 5

1.7. Middle Child ................................................................................................................................. 5

1.8. Last Child and Only Child .............................................................................................................. 6

Chapter Two: Subjects and Methods ...................................................................................................... 7

2.1. Research Design ........................................................................................................................... 7

2.2. Research Setting .......................................................................................................................... 7

2.3. Sample Size .................................................................................................................................. 7

2.4. Criteria for Inclusion ..................................................................................................................... 7

2.5. Tools and Data Collection ............................................................................................................ 7

2.6. Data Analysis: ............................................................................................................................... 7

2.7. Time of Data Collection: ............................................................................................................... 7

Chapter Three: Results ............................................................................................................................ 8

Chapter Four: Discussion ...................................................................................................................... 12

Chapter Five: Conclusion and Recommendations ................................................................................ 13

5.1. Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 13

5.2. Recommendations ......................................................................................................................... 13

List of References .................................................................................................................................. 14

Table of Figures

Table 1 Demographical Characteristics of the Study Sample ................................................... 8

Table 2 Percentage and Frequency of ordinal position .............................................................. 8

Table 3 Evaluation of Cognitive Strength Comparison to Ordinal Position ............................. 8

Table 4 Evaluation of Courage Comparison to Ordinal Position .............................................. 9

Table 5 Evaluation of Humanity Comparison to Ordinal Position ............................................ 9

Table 6 Evaluation of Justice Comparison to Ordinal Position ............................................... 10

Table 7 Evaluation of Temperance Comparison to Ordinal Position ...................................... 11

Table 8 Evaluation of Transcendence Comparison to Ordinal Position .................................. 11

1

Introduction Birth order refers to the ordinal positioning within a family. There are many different theories

and opinions about the concept of birth order (1). Personality characteristics may vary

according to ordinal positioning within the family. The order in which a person is born into

their family plays a substantial role in the individual‟s development of personality, character,

intelligence, and career choices (2).The order we‟re born in is outside our control, so it can

make us uncomfortable to think that our birth order can play a significant part in our

personality and the direction of our life.

There is not one precise theory that accurately predicts how a person may turn out. We are all

different, complex, and unique. Therefore, birth order is about tendencies and general

characteristics that may often apply. There may be several factors that influence birth order

such as spacing of siblings, sex of siblings, twins or multiple births, the physical makeup of

children, sibling deaths, adoptions, the birth order of each parent, the relationship between the

parents, and the blending of two or more families (1).

People are intrigued by the fact that children of a family behave differently although they

were raised in the same environment, such as neighborhood, and share the same genetic pools

from both of their parents. On top of behaviors, siblings do differ in terms of personality

characteristics intelligence (3)familial sentiment and others. Firstborns are always described

as being responsible, high achievers and perfectionists whereas lastborns and only child are

always described as the baby of the house and are mostly spoiled kids (4). As a result, these

differences among siblings have attracted the attention of researchers over the past decades.

Generally, parents are excited and anticipated about their first child and hence, tend to be

overly protective and pay more attention, investment, as well as the expectation on this child.

However, parents‟ attention, investment, and expectation vary across children (5). As the

second child arrives in the family, the firstborn may experience dethronement and the same

happens to the second born once a third child arrives and so forth (6).

Among the general public, it is widely believed that personality is strongly influenced by

birth order, but many psychologists dispute this. One modern theory of personality states that

2

the Big Five personality traits of Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness,

and Neuroticism represent most of the important elements of personality that can be

measured. Contemporary empirical research shows that birth order does not influence the Big

Five personality traits (7).

Aim

Comparing personality characteristics with ordinal positioning within the family

Objectives

1. To find out the demographic characteristics of the study sample.

2. To study personality traits of middle child, first child, youngest child and only child.

3

Literature Review

1.1. Historical background

The word „personality‟ refers to the collection of characteristics or traits that we have

developed as we have grown up and which make each of us an individual. These include the

ways that we think, feel, and behave” (6). The modern medical definition of personality

started with Carl Jug who defined personality as “supreme realization of the innate

idiosyncrasy of a living being” (7). The word personality is originated from Latin word

PERSONA and in Latin language Persona means Mask. For a deeper meaning persona is also

a two word combined PER meaning THROUGH and SONARE meaning TO SOUND and

this makes the complete meaning of the mask (9).

1.2. Birth Order Theories

Alfred Adler (1870–1937), an Austrian psychiatrist, and a contemporary of Sigmund Freud

and Carl Jung was one of the first theorists to suggest that birth order influences personality.

He argued that birth order can leave an indelible impression on an individual's style of life,

which is one's habitual way of dealing with the tasks of friendship, love, and work.

According to Adler, firstborns are "dethroned" when a second child comes along, and this

may have a lasting influence on them, causing them to develop a Middle child syndrome.

Younger and only children may be pampered and spoiled, which was suggested to affect their

later personalities (10).

For Adler, birth order answered the question, "Why do children, who are raised in the same

family, grow up with very different personalities?" While a strict geneticist, believing

siblings are raised in a shared environment, may claim any differences in personality would

be caused by subtle variations in the individuals' genetics, Adler showed through his birth

order theory that children do not grow up in the same shared environment, but the oldest

child grows up in a family where they have younger siblings, the middle child with older and

younger siblings, and the youngest with older siblings (11)

Adler suggests that if more than three years are between children, various sub-groups of birth

order may develop, also acknowledges that for some people birth order may not be as

significant an influence as parental attitudes, gender roles or socio-economic issues (12).

4

Another theorist, Frank Sulloway, proposed that birth order has strong and consistent effects

our personality traits, he pointed that the firstborns are more dominant, less open to new

ideas, and more conscientious than later-born children. (13)

1.3. Birth order and personality

The pioneer of birth order research, Alfred Adler, had theorized that each birth a position has

a set of personality traits. Firstborns are always seen as leaders, high-achievers, ambitious,

and conforming (4). They attempt to please their parents via traditional ways, which are

through academic performance and responsible behaviors (14).

Middle children, on the other hand, may experience difficulty finding a pposition of privilege

and significance in the family because they never have the opportunity to monopolize parents

'attention (6).

Thus, they constantly fight to stay ahead of their younger siblings. In contrast, lastborns and

only children are frequently viewed as the spoiled kid of the family. It is because both of

these birth positions are the only focus of the family. However, unlike the only children, the

later-born children, including the middle children and last-born children, are aware of the

higher status of the firstborn, so they will seek alternative strategies to stand out from their

siblings (14).

1.4. Birth Order and Intelligence

Well-publicized observational studies find that first-born have slightly higher IQ than later

born. Such data are, however, confounded with family size, which is in turn correlated with

IQ confounds, such as social status. Some research has set out to explain the relationship,

assuming it is real, other studies have tested to what degree the apparent effect is an artifact

(15).

Robert Zajonc argued for a "confluence" model in which the lack of siblings experienced by

firstborns exposes them to the more intellectual adult family environment. This predicts

similar increases in IQ for siblings who next-oldest sibling is at least five years senior. These

children are considered to be "functional firstborns". The theory further predicts that

firstborns will be more intelligent than only children because the latter will not benefit from

the "tutor effect" (i.e. teaching younger siblings). In a meta-analysis, Polit and Falbo (1988)

5

found that firstborns, only children, and children with one sibling all score higher on tests of

verbal ability than later borns and children with multiple siblings (16).

1.5. Ordinal Position

The position a family member holds within the family such as an only child, first born,

second born, third born, and fourth born (1).

1.6. First Child First born children are described as leaders that are often perfectionists that desire approval

from those in charge. Leman also states that first borns are "typically aggressive" but are also

often people pleasers (17).

Adler pointed out that the first social context we have is within our family constellation. As

children, we form conclusions of the world by our subjective experiences with family, school,

and other social outlets (12). Imagine that we create a cognitive map or lifestyle when we are

children that include our aspirations, long-term goals, morals, and a concept of what the

world expects from us. These are a person‟s core beliefs about how to perceive life events,

which can be shaped by birth order dynamic. A child is searching for significance in their

family and their world, which sets up competition with siblings to establish a place in the

family unit where they feel worthy of attention and love (18) .

1.7. Middle Child

Middle children are sometimes diverse in that they are "guaranteed to be opposite of their

older sibling" and often have the feeling that they are ignored in favor of their older and

younger siblings (17). They are also described as having personalities that lean towards being

secretive and can often serve as peacemakers between their older and younger siblings (14).

Adler describes the second-born child as someone who has a "pacemaker." Since there is

always someone who was there first, this child may grow to be more competitive, rebellious

and consistent in attempting to be best. Middle children may struggle with figuring out their

place in the family and, later, in the world. They are eager for parental praise and thus tend to

develop gifts in the arts or academia in order to accomplish this goal. Due to their "middle"

status, they also may be the most flexible and diplomatic members of the family (18).

6

1.8. Last Child and Only Child Leman describes the last children as "social and outgoing" but also the "most financially

irresponsible of all birth orders". He also comments that they have the potential to be

manipulative as well as charming (17).

In Adler's theory, the youngest child may be dependent and selfish due to always being taken

care of by family members. However, this child may also possess positive traits of

confidence, ability to have fun and comfort at entertaining others. Only children do not have

to share their parents' attention (14). They may have a hard time when they are told no, and

school may be a difficult transition as they are not the sole focus of the teacher. On a positive

note, Adler believed that, compared to others their age, only children tend to be more mature,

feel more comfortable around adults and even do better in intellectual and creative pursuits

(12).

7

Subjects and Methods

2.1. Research Design

A descriptive analytical design.

2.2. Research Setting

This study was conducted at Duhok city/Faculty of Medical Sciences.

2.3. Sample Size

A Total of 100 students were interviewed from previously mentioned settings (46boys &

54girls) for their birth order chosen randomly.

2.4. Criteria for Inclusion

Both sexes were included, free from any chronic psychiatric disorders or medical problems.

2.5. Tools and Data Collection

Interview questionnaire sheet developed based on VIA Institute on Character 2004-2016, the

developed questionnaire consisted of 24 close ended questions. Cognitive strengths been

evaluated through five questions on different aspects included (Creativity, Judgment,

Curiosity, Love of learning and perspective it means Being able to provide wise counsel to

others ) .while courage focused on bravery, perseverance(taking pleasure in completing

tasks), honesty, zest(Approaching life with excitement and energy), humanity, justice,

temperance (Strengths that protect against excess), transcendence(Strengths that forge

connections to the larger universe and provide meaning).While part two consisted of

demographic data included sex, ordinal positioning within the family.

2.6. Data Analysis:

The collected data was categorized and analyzed by using appropriate statistical tests using

SPSS version18. Frequencies, chi-square test used to interpret the collected data as well as

tables are used for data presentation. Test of significance was used and level of significance

determined at 0.05 and 0.001 for high significance.

2.7. Time of Data Collection:

The data collection started from 15th

of March 2017 to 25th

of March 2017, in Duhok City,

Kurdistan Region.

8

Results

Table 1 Demographical Characteristics of the Study Sample

Sex First

Child

Middle

Child

Youngest

Child

Only

Child

Total

Male %within ordinal position 50.0% 43.5% 34.5% 62.5% 46.0%

Female %within ordinal position 50.0% 56.5% 65.5% 37.5% 54.0%

Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

*The (Table 1) shows that most of the participants (62.5%) were only child males, (50%)

were first child males, (43.5%) were Middle child male and the rest (34.5%) were youngest

child males. On the other hand, the percentage of female gender within each group of ordinal

position differ, (37.5%) of the female were the only child, (65.5%) of females were the

youngest child, (56.5%) were the middle child and 50%were first child.

Table 2 Percentage and Frequency of ordinal position

Ordinal Position Frequency Percent %

Valid percent Cumulative percent

First child 32 32.0 32.0 32.0 Middle Child 23 23.0 23.0 55.0

Youngest Child 29 29.0 29.0 84.0 Only Child 16 16.0 16.0 100.0

Total 100 100.0 100.0

*The (Table 2) shows that most of the study sample (32%) from both genders male and

females were first Child, (29%) were the youngest Child, (23%) were the middle child, (16%)

were the only child.

Table 3 Evaluation of Cognitive Strength Comparison to Ordinal Position

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Cog

nitiv

e

Stren

gth

In

gen

uity

Creativity 62.5% 4.3% 79.3% 75.0%

Judgment 9.4% 26.1% 48.3% 75.0%

Curiosity 62.5% 4.3% 65.5% .0%

Learning passion 65.6% 4.3% 65.5% 68.8%

Perspective 62.5% 13.0% 72.4% 6.3%

9

*The (Table 3) shows that there is a significant relation between Cognitive strength and

ordinal position (P value is 0.001).Also, the table showed that (79.3%) of the youngest child

had creativity. (75%) of the only child, they gave judgment (critical thinker), (65.5%) of the

youngest child were Curious, (75.5%) of the only child had love of learning. (72.4%) of the

youngest child were wise (perspective).

Table 4 Evaluation of Courage Comparison to Ordinal Position

*The (Table 4) shows that there is a significant relation between courage and ordinal position

(p-value is 0.001), (81.3%) of the only child stand for their beliefs and give their opinions

strongly (bravery) and 56.3%of them take pleasure in completing tasks (perseverance).While

(87.5%) of the first child take responsibility one‟s feelings and actions(honesty). (69%) of the

youngest child approach life with excitement and energy (zest).

Table 5 Evaluation of Humanity Comparison to Ordinal Position

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Cou

rag

e In

gen

uity

Bravery 75.0% 4.3% 37.9% 81.3%

Perseverance .0% 8.7% 6.9% 56.3%

Honesty 87.5% .0% 79.3% 6.3%

Zest 21.9% 13.0% 69.0% 68.8%

P value 0.001

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Hu

man

ity

Ingen

uity

Love

(P value 0.08 )

84.4%

73.9%

86.2%

50.0%

Kindness

(P value 0.04)

65.6%

73.9%

79.3%

81.3%

Social Intelligence

(P value 0.001)

31.3%

73.9%

82.8%

62.5%

10

*(Table 5) shows that Valuing close relations with others (love) have no significant relation

with ordinal position (p-value is 0.08); while kindness has significant relation with ordinal

position (p-value 0.04) and also social intelligence have significant relation with ordinal

position (p-value 0.001).

Evaluating humanity according to ordinal position as it shows in (Table 5) regarding love

question (86.2%) of the youngest child value relations with others(81.3%)of the only child do

favor and good deeds for others,(82.8%)of the youngest child can easily make new friends

and adapt to new situations(social intelligence).

Table 6 Evaluation of Justice Comparison to Ordinal Position

*The (Table 6) shows that there is significant relation between justice and ordinal position (p-

value is 0.001), within studied sample (72.4%) of youngest child believed in team working

75.9% of the youngest child feel comfortable while working with different religious and

ethnicity group,(86.2%) of the youngest had ability to master and guide a group of

peoples(leadership skills ).

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Ju

stice

Ingen

uity

Team work

(P value 0.001)

71.9% 73.9% 72.4% 12.5%

Fairness

(P value 0.001)

75.0% 69.6% 75.9% 31.3%

Leadership

(P value 0.001)

65.6% 13.0% 86.2% 25.0%

11

Table 7 Evaluation of Temperance Comparison to Ordinal Position

*(Table 7) shows a significant relation between temperance and ordinal position (p-value is

0.001). (86.2%) of the youngest child have forgiveness. (79.3%) of the youngest child have

humbleness.

Table 8 Evaluation of Transcendence Comparison to Ordinal Position

*(Table 8) shows that there is significant association between transcendence and birth order

(p-value is equal to 0.001).79.3% of the youngest child were appreciative person, (75%) of

only child were thankful person, (65.5%) of the youngest child were hopeful,(68.8%)of only

child had sense of humor,(62.5%)of the first child were spiritual persons.

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Tem

pera

nce

Ingen

uity

Forgiveness

(P value 0.001)

71.9%

82.6%

86.2%

25.0%

Humility

(P value 0.001)

6.3%

4.3%

79.3%

68.8%

First Child

%(Yes)

Middle child

%(Yes)

Youngest child

%(yes)

Only Child

%(Yes)

Tra

nsced

ence

Ingen

uity

Appreciation 62.5% 4.3% 79.3% 75.0%

Gratitude 9.4% 26.1% 48.3% 75.0%

Hope 62.5% 4.3% 65.5% .0%

Humor 65.6% 4.3% 65.5% 68.8%

Spirituality 62.5% 13.0% 72.4% 6.3%

P value 0.001

12

Discussion This study was conducted to compare personality traits regarding birth order. Ernst and Angst

concluded that „„birth order does not appear to be a very strong influence in molding

personality in a definable way‟‟(19).

The results of the study showed that there is a significant relation between personality traits

comparison to birth orders. 79.3% of the youngest child are creative ,65.5% curious

72.4%,perspective,69%apprach life with excitement,86.2%value relation with others ,72.4%

work in team,75.9% fair, 86.2% have leaderships skills,79.3% are humble,86.2% have spirit

of forgiveness,79.3% appreciative person and 83% have social intelligence .

Sulloway hypothesized firstborns were to be higher than later born in Neuroticism,

Extraversion, and Conscientiousness and lower openness to Experience and Agreeableness

(20).

Regarding the personality traits of the only child during this study turned out to be as follow

75% are the critical thinker, 75.5%they have love of learning, 81.3% are perseverance, 81.3%

do good deeds for others and 75% are a thankful person. While first child 87% is honest,

68.8%have sense of humor and 62.5% are a spiritual people.

Middle child have no much courage compared to the oldest one, have lowest transcendence

than first child and youngest child, have less temperance than youngest child but more than

only child and first child, have lowest leadership skills among his /her siblings.

During Leman’s research in the 1960’s, he found that “ the planned only child was often the

victim of very structured, tightly disciplined parents and were treated as an adult, pressured to

be mature, responsible, and dependable (10).

The middle child personality characteristics are different from the first child, Second-born

children are more affectionate, impulsive, and less concerned with rules and goals. If there

are more than three children in a family, the second born typically takes up the middle child

characteristics, while the younger middle siblings relate more with the first-born. Third-born

and on are typically slower to develop socially and tend show more emotional expression,

which may be a result of being more pampered than the elder siblings (19).

13

Conclusion and Recommendations

5.1. Conclusion

The birth order provides one important source of personality differences, the differences in

personality traits resulted from different reasons, it could be family size, Gender plays a role

in that for example If the first-born is a boy and the second child is a girl, she might develop

the character traits of a first-born. A number of years between children have an influence on

personality traits .On the other hand How parents treat their child with respect to his/her birth

position have a huge influence on child character.

5.2. Recommendations It's recommended from this study that more research is needed to see if a significant

association between gender and personality character in term of ordinal positioning within

family.

14

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