This is what your what birth order says about your personality

Is our birth order a key factor in shaping our personalities? Apparently, it is!

The theory of birth order was first proposed in the early 1900s by psychotherapist Alfred Adler, a disciple of Freud. Adler believed his theory answered why siblings - who may share nature and nurture, to some extent - are so different.

So, what exactly does birth order theory say about you?

Oldest Child

The oldest child in the family tends to have better leadership skills and takes a more conservative, power-oriented and dominant approach.

The oldest child in the family often takes care of their siblings, which develops a stronger responsibility and caring feeling. Firstborn children also will take more initiative, according to Adler.

Research has also shown that firstborns are more honest, however they aren’t as stress-resistant as their younger siblings.

Youngest Child

Opposite to the firstborn child, the youngest children tend to form a different personality.

Youngest children are usually over-pampered by their parents and enjoy the attention they’re given by their older siblings.

Nonetheless, youngest children are highly motivated to 'one-up' their older siblings. They also tend to be strongly socially developed.

Middle Child

Personality-wise, middle children tend to be situated somewhere in between these two.

The older sibling can be best described as the 'pace-setter' in the family, which often leads to a more ambitious approach for the middle children.

They set the bar high and make more errors than usual, but this allows them to learn more from their mistakes. Middle children are conscientious and diligent.

Only Child

The only child doesn’t have to worry about competing with other siblings.

Only children are usually pampered a lot as well and tend to receive a lot of protection from their parents.

Only children tend to get dependent on other people and are usually more self-centred according to Adler, but research has shown that they’re quite open as well, although more nervous than their peers.

Perfectionists are often only children who never stop to achieve their goals.

Do you fit the mould?