Adler’s Theory of Birth Order
In the 1920s, Alfred Adler, a physician and one-time colleague of Sigmund Freud, was among the first to suggest that birth order had much to do with shaping an individual’s personality. According to Adler’s theory, each place in a family structure comes with a role, which then shapes the personality of the family member in that role. Later theorists have expanded upon Adler’s work and propose that a child’s place in the family structure not only shapes personality but has implications for the child’s future in school and in the workplace.
The oldest child begins life with both parents’ attention, and with a lot of adult interaction tends to develop strong people skills. First borns are often intelligent and assertive. And because these children lose their parents’ complete attention when siblings arrive, first borns tends to be ambitious and disciplined perfectionists as they try to regain their parents’ attention and to assert their superiority over the other children. Their leadership role in the family may also lead first borns to be controlling and to place great importance on being right. First borns carry their high-achieving ways into their careers. They often choose professions that require higher education such as science, law, government and engineering. In business, first borns hold most senior management positions. Interestingly, over half of U.S. presidents and Nobel Prize winners are first borns. Winston Churchill, Oprah Winfrey, and Bill and Hillary Clinton are some famous first borns.
The typical middle child’s competitiveness may stem from trying to keep up or surpass the older sibling. With this competitive nature comes flexibility and diplomacy since the middle child must deal with older and young siblings. At the same time, middle children may become rebellious as they try to win attention. A search for their own identity leads many middles to move far from home once they are grown. More laid back and flexible than first borns, typical middles have good communication skills and enjoy socializing. Middles often choose careers in nursing, law enforcement, social work and support services. While middles do not typically earn as much as first borns, they report greater satisfaction with their jobs. Famous middles include such great communicators as Martin Luther King and John F. Kennedy as well as Bill Gates, Madonna, and Princess Diana.
The stereotype of the youngest child being pampered and spoiled often is the reality according to birth order theorists. Even though their parents are the most experienced, youngest children are frequently the least disciplined, possibly because their parents have grown more relaxed or just more tired from child-raising. Although used to being the center of attention and expecting others to provide for them, the youngest children can also be creative and delightful, winning over parents and siblings with charm and humor. Having been perceived as the smallest and weakest in their own families, last borns often swell the ranks of reform movements and champion the cuases of the underdog, the downtrodden. Their creativity and love of attention draw last borns to careers in the arts, journalism, sales, and athletics. Copernicus, Harriet Tubman, Mother Teresa, Jay Leno, and Eddie Murphy are famous last borns.
Dr. Adler presented his theories as only one of many ways of trying to understand people, and experts continue to both expand upon and question these theories. Birth order is only one of many variables that go into shaping an individual’s personality.
Reading as a Believer
1. Adler believes birth order plays a significant role in shaping one’s personality. Why might his theory have validity?
2. The author begins each body paragraph with an explanation of the traits associated with a particular birth order. How do these eplanations support Adler’s theory?
3. The author also includes examples of well-known people. How do these examples support Adler’s theory?
4. What in your own experiences supports Adler’s theory? In what ways are you like the profile your birth order indicates? Do you have family and friends who fit Adler’s birth order profiles?
5. What do you find most convincing or most engaging about Adler’s theory?
Now, go back and reread the same articles as a doubter, looking for ways to question and disbelieve what the writer says. Then, answer the following questions.
Reading as a Doubter
1. What questions about Adler and his theory does the introduction raise? Why might you doubt the theory’s credibility?
2. What other factors in a person’s lofe might reduce or even negate the influence of birth order?
3. What about Adler’s theory seems to suggest stereotyping?
4. What in your own eperiences goes against Adler’s theory? In what ways are you unlike the profile your birth order indicates? Which friends and/or family members do not fit Adler’s birth order profiles?
5. What additional kinds of examples and explanation should the author have included to present Adler’s theory more convincingly?