Is there a correlation between birth order and academic success? Many studies done since psychotherapist Alfred Alder developed birth order theory in the 1900s show that the topic is a controversial one.
Many of them do support a relationship between birth order and academic success. However, how birth order affects academic performance is not that simple. Other factors like parenting style and culture come into play. Here’s a closer look at some of Alfred Adler’s ideas about birth order and its possible relationship to academic success.
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Firstborns
Firstborns were seen by Adler as achievers and leaders. They were also responsible, reliable and cautious. He saw them as dutiful and sometimes conservative. They may also be controlling and focus on being correct.
Firstborns are more likely to be subject to intense parental monitoring. The rules are stricter for firstborns. Firstborns may perform better at school because parents set high standards for them. They assist them with their homework and keep a close eye on their academic performance. Parenting style tends to change as more children are born. Parents become more relaxed when a second or third child comes along.
The middle child
According to Adler, a middle child may feel ignored, overshadowed and neglected. Further studies to prove this have yielded mixed results. The firstborn and the lastborn seem to get more attention than the middle child. The attention the middle child receives as the baby in the family is short-lived. The birth of another child changes their role in the family and can be unsettling for them.
Middle children try to fit in and act out to get attention. They may be more independent than firstborn children and focus on relationships outside of the home. They make great colleagues and team players because they tend to know how to keep the peace. Middle children may not do as well academically because they may lack self-esteem and not get as much help from their parents.
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The youngest child
According to Adler’s theory, the youngest child in the family may be spoiled and pampered. This tends to make them self-centered and to be more dependent. They tend to have less of a sense of responsibility as the baby of the family.
They will see more humor in situations and are often playful and entertaining. In discussing potential careers, Leman sees firstborn children as often filling positions of power, middle children as successful entrepreneurs, while many youngest children become entertainers or comedians.
Differing study results
For every study that finds birth order traits are legitimate, there’s another that contradicts it. There have been studies that show a correlation between birth order and academic success and others that don’t.
Some research indicates that as a child’s birth order number increases, IQ is likely to decrease. Other studies conclude that birth order has only a minuscule relationship to the development of intelligence. It can be confusing to draw a conclusion about the truth of Adler’s theory.
Birth order and personality traits
Some studies show that birth order has a lasting effect on personality traits, and others contradict this. Dr. Kevin Leman’s The Birth Order Book describes how birth order can influence who you are, who you marry, the job you choose and what kind of parent you will be.
The book talks about the firstborn, middle, youngest and only children. He gives descriptions about the strengths and weaknesses of each child. Many people find this book helpful because it gives them insight into why they think or act the way they do.
Conclusion
Many children do seem to fall into the stereotypical birth order roles. This may be due in large part due to parenting styles. With each child that comes along, attention and resources are more divided. The results of this may have some effect on the ability of the child to grow cognitively and emotionally. Data that look at birth order and academic potential seems to support a relationship between the two, even if it’s a relatively small one.
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