Middle children may be more cooperative, research suggests

The Role of Birth Order in Shaping Personality

It’s often said that birth order shapes children’s personalities, with the eldest being more authoritarian and conservative, and the younger with a more rebellious spirit. But what about middle children?

A Study on Cooperation and Birth Order

A Canadian study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences reveals that middle children may be the real architects of family harmony.

Methodology and Findings

A team of psychologists, led by Michael Ashton and Kibeom Lee, examined data from over 700,000 participants, mainly from English-speaking countries. These volunteers included eldest, middle and youngest children, as well as people with no siblings.

Their study reveals that middle children score slightly higher than their siblings on traits related to cooperation. More broadly, the study shows that growing up in a larger family fosters a more people-oriented personality.

The Traits of Cooperation

These children are more likely to develop two specific traits linked to cooperation: agreeableness, and what the researchers call “honesty-humility”, i.e. a tendency to be sincere, fair and respectful towards others.

Middle Children as Mediators

Middle children, often caught between their elders and younger siblings, seem to excel in these areas, regularly acting as mediators within their families.

A Surprising Figure

One surprising figure that puts this theory into perspective is that someone from a family of six is 60% more likely to be cooperative than an only child.

Limitations and Conclusion

Lee, however, points out the limitations of this observation. “You can’t tell much about the personality of an individual from their birth order or family size, even though there are clear differences when averaging across many people,” the expert told the Guardian.

In short, while birth order or family size may not totally define our personality, these factors can leave a subtle imprint. Growing up with many brothers and sisters fosters mutual support and adaptability, and the intermediate position of middle children prepares them to forge balanced, rich relationships with those around them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does this study suggest that middle children are inherently more cooperative?
A: No, the study suggests that middle children are more likely to develop traits related to cooperation due to their position in the family.

Q: Can birth order or family size totally define our personality?
A: No, these factors can leave a subtle imprint, but they do not totally define our personality.

Q: What are the implications of this study?
A: The study suggests that growing up in a larger family can foster a more people-oriented personality, and that middle children may be particularly well-suited to mediating conflicts and fostering cooperation within their families.