Abstract This paper examines two 1981 papers, the first arguing that early born children in a family demonstrate high competitiveness and motivation, in a large U.S. university student sample. The second discusses bio-behavioural factors of personality development to cast doubt on studies such as the first, reminding of various influences to produce motivated personalities that favour achievement.
From the Paper "Two Articles Discussing Birth Order Attributions - Questionable Concepts. Introduction Adlerian psychology, developmental psychology, and role theory, indicate that personality variables relate to roles taken on by siblings within a family, as opposed to actual birth order. (1927) Unfortunately, it can seem that those most given to expressing the importance of birth order are sometimes Adlerian psychologists, or those given to otherwise referring to Adler. Nonetheless, birth order has been a concept of tremendous appeal to various researchers in its meaning of attribution according to place among a family's children, from which all manner of predictions have been extrapolated."
Abstract This paper introduces the issue of birth order in relation to personality development, traits and life outcomes. The paper discusses two studies showing parallel, very different views and outlines a large volume of birth order material since the 1960s that has carried over to a popular psychology realm.
From the Paper "A Reflection on Birth Order Attributions in Psychology. Introduction This paper opens by examining two papers of 25 years ago that help to show flaws in the idea of personality development or experiential differences owing to a person's position in the family of origin. Adler expressed some interest in connections between psychology, developmental psychology, and role theory, indicating variables related to the positions taken by siblings in a family, more than precise birth order. (1927) One is not surprised to know that Birth Order has been a favourite topic of popular psychology. Many scholars reject theories of birth order for their too reductive nature."
