Imagine having a third parent, who might only be a few years older than you! This is the typical way that younger siblings would describe their older brother or sister.
The theory behind the impact that sibling order can have on an individual’s behavior dates back to the twentieth century and was introduced by Austrian psychotherapist Alfred Adler. After being heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud’s pioneering work, Alder developed the concept of “family constellation,” which proposed that a child’s placement in the sibling hierarchy can influence their strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits.
Over the years, these stereotypes have been developed and edited to fit with modernized perspectives. So what do these stereotypes currently look like?
The oldest sibling frequently takes on more of a leadership role over their younger sibling(s). Based on research by Medical News Today, traits of the oldest sibling might include responsible, perfectionist, traditional, and self-reliance. This is where the “third parent” perspective comes into play!
Oldest siblings like to take knowledge that they’ve gained and pass it on to their siblings. They can be viewed as high-achievers and can have a tendency to behave conventionally in order to keep their parents’ attention. These traits are developed through the attention they receive from being the first born. At the time, the parents were new to parenting and devoted their time and energy to this child. As more siblings come along, the oldest sibling will adapt their behavior to act as a role model for their younger sibling(s).
“Being an older sibling is great, it’s like being a mini parent of my younger sister when my parents aren’t around,” expresses Lana Marsh, ‘25. “I also get a lot of stuff since I’m the oldest.”
As students, they might have more of a leader personality and might have a heightened sense of ambition. They might be the first to volunteer for an activity, enjoy assignments that involve problem solving using logical or methodical ways.
The middle sibling is overrun with jokes and humorous remarks that depict them as being the “forgotten” sibling. These siblings have been seen as being the funniest sibling, as well as more creative and sociable. According to Adler’s theory, the middle child is seen as the “sandwich” between their older and younger siblings, as they are often neglected or overlooked by their parents.
On the other hand, middle siblings frequently have the potential struggle of having low self-esteem, which sparks them to strive to be different from their siblings. This can cause them to be more rebellious or competitive. In the family, they are seen as the “peacemaker” and diplomatic.
When in a workspace, they could be individuals who commonly thrive from positive reinforcement and are always up for challenges. They could be seen as class clowns due to their funny personalities and are often easy to get along with. They’re turn takers and value active listening in the classroom.
Stereotypically, the youngest is the most spoiled or even bratty sibling. Adler’s theory lists younger siblings as more outgoing, charming, carefree, and playful personalities. They can even be sometimes depicted as having an attention seeking demeanor. They put in effort to stand out and be noticed by their older siblings, sometimes even striving to be like them based on age differences.
“As the youngest, I find it easier to do certain things like talk about and pick colleges along with other experiences due to my sister already going through it,” explains Jorja Binikos, ‘27. “Personally, I’m glad to be the younger sibling due to having a role model and guide in my life who is my sister.”
As students, they make friends easily, they go with the flow, but sometimes might not follow through with responsibilities. They have a tendency to be more extroverted than some of their peers and make for good company for those around them.
If you’re an only child, you’ve probably had conversations with friends about the pros and cons of having a sibling. Only children receive the most attention from their parents, seeing as they have no sibling to share the spotlight with. In Adler’s theory, listed by How Stuff Works, the only child has a tendency to be creative, intellectually curious, a potential struggle with independence and self-reliance, and have a heightened sense of maturity and responsibility.
When working in the classroom, these individuals are highly motivated and ambitious. They share traits with the oldest siblings as they carry dominance in leadership roles and strive for higher forms of education.
A poll was taken of where Stroudsburg students fall in the sibling hierarchy. It was found that the most dominant spot was the youngest sibling with 38 percent of votes. The least common was only child with only 4 percent.
An organization dedicated to the providence of job opportunities, resources, and career advice known as CareerBuilder, conducted a study regarding which careers each sibling would be drawn to based on their personalities.
The oldest siblings tend to be attracted to careers involving science, engineering, government, and information technology. Middle children might choose law enforcement, fire-fighting, construction, education, or personal care. The youngest might be interested in information technology, arts, design, or architecture, writing, or even sales. As for only children, they might be attracted to engineering, information technology, nursing, or law enforcement.
The theory of sibling order has been an ongoing debate for over a century. Some people think it’s insane that the order of birth could possibly influence their personality and behavior. So what about you? Do you match up with your placement in the sibling hierarchy?
