Abstract

The approach to investigating the following research question “To what extent does Birth Order affect our personality?” was the examination of the different factors in which an individual’s personality can be affected by the sequence of their birth in the family. The paper begins with the examination of the birth order theory suggested by Alfred Adler in the 1900s which agrees with the common notion that the first born is often the conscientious leader, the second born is the outgoing mediator and the youngest is the most charming and affectionate of the siblings who receives and enjoys the attention from the parents.The various researches undertaken to test the validity of the common stereotypes created over the years by society (Jacobs and Moss, 1976) have also been looked into . The discussion leads to questioning the basis of stereotypes and criticisms to the widely presumed birth order theory (Ansbacher & Ansbacher, 1956).

Another factor, such as cultural traditions that make the birth order theory inapplicable have been elaborated. For example, in countries such as India, the birth of a male child is always celebrated and he most likely to receive the treatment and accept the role that a first -born would.

The conclusion was that despite the widely accepted pre- conceived characteristics that we give to children based on their birth order, this debate will never entirely come to rest as there is always a contradictory research accompanying one that supports the birth order theory. Also, there is no biological or genetic proof, which can give these studies a scientific backing. However, the assumed roles and personalities of children in a family according to their birth order are not entirely baseless and must hold some truth due to the overwhelming number of researches carried out, investigating this topic.