Birth order in family dynamics
Does the order in which we are born really have an impact on family dynamics and shape our personality? Angela Baura investigates
Therese Tee is your archetypal first born - self-assured, driven, organised. When her parents divorced seven years ago, for instance, she worked carefully to ensure their paths did not cross at family events. And as the eldest of four siblings, she has always shouldered the responsibilities of her family.
Tee, a La Leche League Leader, describes herself as an "organised, meticulous, and tired perfectionist" - traits that birth order theorists attribute to people who are oldest among their siblings.
Introduced in 1910 by psychologist Alfred Adler, birth order theory argues that the sequence in which we are born, and our interaction with family members, has a direct bearing on our personalities and, as a result, our relationships, lifestyle and career choices. Later research seems to bear that out.
Being a firstborn has its benefits. A 2007 study published by Norwegian researchers in journals Science and Intelligence showed firstborns are generally smarter than younger siblings, enjoying an IQ that is on average three points higher than the next eldest.
This may simply be due to a tendency among parents to lavish resources on their firstborn. A study by Brigham Young University's professor Joseph Price released in 2008 in the Journal of Human Resources found that parents gave their firstborn child about 3,000 more hours of quality time between the ages of four and 13 compared to the next sibling.
As other siblings arrive, however, having to share mum and dad's attention may cause resentment and insecurity. According to Adler, firstborns may feel "dethroned".