Saturday, October 24, 2009

The Pecking Order



Do you believe sibling birth order predicts behavior, character traits, and even life success or failure rates?

Where do you fall in the birth order lineup?

38 comments:

Vodka Mom said...

yes, I do.


I am the middle child.


:-)

JKS said...

only child... but I'm not spoiled. Really. I'm NOT!!!!!!!! *throws temper tantrum*

Rebecca Nazar said...

Ooooooooooooh yes. I'm the oldest and a textbook case of perfectionism and uptightness.

Carol Murdock said...

I'm the baby! :)

Angie Ledbetter said...

Vodka Mom - Well, we need go no further in our informal research. You've proved all the middle child stuff right off the bat! :D (I'm married to one, so I'm an expert.)

LOL JKS!! Made me snorkle in my coffee cup.

Rebecca - You're falling right in line with the pecking order traits. :)

I would've guessed that Carol. hehe

Irish Gumbo said...

I am the younger of two boys. In that my Big Bro provided me (sometimes) with what you might call a "Reverse Role Model", yeah I'd say birth order has some influence. :)

BTW, I love my Big Bro, and I miss him a lot.

Char said...

probably yes..

Me...in the middle.

Stacy Post said...

Yes, I believe there's some truth in birth order.

I'm the dreaded middle child...mwhuahuahuahuahuahahahahaa!

:)

Jenna said...

I'm first born. And I believe there is a lot to birth order.

I actually have a book on birth order titled THE PECKING ORDER :).

Angie Ledbetter said...

Irish, sibling love's an awesome thing, hunh?

Char - the little trouble-making, authority challenger? :)

I wouldn't have pegged you for a middle child Stacy. (See note to Vodka Mom and Char. LOL)

Jenna - I've seen that book before! Interesting theories on leadership and such according to birth order.

Kathryn Magendie said...

Hey, we both have chickens on our posts this morning -- laughing -- teheh

anyway---I'm betting it does. With us, there are two parts: one---with bio-mom she had us three (my brothers and me) and there was oldest, then me in the middle, then the youngest. then we went to live with dad and stepmom(who adopted us) and she had two more - so, that upset the whatevers a bit -- because there is oldest and youngest with her bio kids, but then there's us three oldest...OMG OM GOMG OMG -- BRAIN SNAP too complicated -- DANGER DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON - AH-OOGA AH-OOGA...

what was I saying?

Everyday Goddess said...

I'm the only daughter and the second child having one older brother.
Confused?

Marguerite said...

I'm the baby of two, with one older brother. Baby Girl, for sure!
Come on over to Cajun Country and pick up your latest award, sha!

Michelle H. said...

Yes, I believe it. And it makes things harder on the others. One persons success/failure will fall upon the next one needing to do the same or do better, causing either idolation or hostility. Favortism is also a big factor on the behavior of siblings.

I'm the youngest of three. I have and older brother (middle child) and an older sister.

Carrie Wilson Link said...

I am the poster child for first born.

Jennifer said...

I think it does influence personality a bit, yeah.

I'm the oldest of three, but was the only child for almost twelve years.

Angie Ledbetter said...

LOL Kat. Maybe your family arrangements means you have all the good characteristics of each "chick" in the pecking order?

OMG - You're the baby too, then. (Seems like lots of blogger/writers are? Will have to continue this research project.)

Marguerite - The little sha t bebe! Ooo, and an award? Be there shortly. Thank you!

Oh, you're the widdle baby Michelle. hehe. I agree on sibling order playing a huge role. But as a mother, I can't STAND knowing some parents play favorites with their kids. ewwwwwwww!

LOL Carrie. True dat.

Jenna - That gives you great perspective. Traits from the oldest child (achiever), and also the only one. Interesting.

Diane said...

I'm the oldest and it seems to apply to me. :O)

Mandy said...

Not really, in my opinion. I'm the youngest and I'm the more level-headed one. I have a lot more appreciation and concern for my parents than my older brother. But I have a cousin who is the older one and she's the sensible one over her sister. So I don't think the stereotypical rules of sibling order apply to everyone. I think you make a choice on what kind of person who will be regardless of the order you were born.

Karen said...

Hi - I'm the oldest girl and there's no question your birth order influences your personality. I did my college thesis paper on the subject. We have a child pychologist/former teacher and principal in our area named Jack Agati who does a phenomenal talk on birth order. He had tapes if you want to look him up.

Donna M. Kohlstrom said...

I am the oldest of seven children. I have five younger brothers and a sister. I have the classic oldest child who's female, syndrome. I'm the nuturer, take control, perfectionist, etc. All good qualities I might add! If I had a counselor I'm sure they'd have a ball with me! LOL!

Tamika: said...

I'm the oldest of three so of course I believe in the pecking order. Talk to one of my siblings and you will likely get a completely different story.

Great post, and very thought provoking. That could write a story for most of us.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Thanks for joining the discussion Diane. :)

Mandy - I totally agree. While pecking order might predispose you to certain traits and actions, we're all free (and should) CHOOSE how we will be!

Karen - Very cool! I'm sure there are exceptions to the "rules," and like Mandy said, we all have free will to choose our paths, but the whole birth order thing is fascinating in the way it helps shape us.

LOL Donna. Glad you've identified all those good traits in yourself. :D

Tamika - I find the subject fascinating, especially being a twin (we're the oldest) and having two more siblings close in age after us. Thanks for adding to the convo. :)

Karen said...

I'm the oldest and proud of it. My brothers never did catch on that they had to do everything I told them, just because... :0

Elizabeth Bradley said...

I have a brother eight years older than me and a sister two years younger, so I WAS the middle child until I was ten, and then my brother went into the army, which made me the oldest for about eight years. You could say I have traits of both categories.

Laura Martone said...

Like JKS, I'm an only child... but I'm certainly not a brat - only threw a tantrum the one time, when I was two and my grandma and great-grandma spent several hours making me try on fancy coat after fancy coat at Maison Blanche. That wasn't bratty so much as understandably fed-up for a tomboy. Ever since, I've hated shopping... what does that say about me?

Analisa said...

Oh yes. I am the youngest. There was a sister, brother and another sister ahead of me. I was late doing everything.

Deb said...

I'm the oldest of four and have the typical traits that go with the job. And oh yes, it is a job :)

Midlife Roadtripper said...

#2 of 4. I'm the rebel. Always have been. Always hope to be.

Unknown said...

Only child here. Perfection personified!

Angie Ledbetter said...

LOL Karen.

Elizabeth - That's really neat. You can dip into the well of both trait pools!

I don't know what it means Laura, but if you find out, would ya let me know? I hate shopping too. Always have. :)

Analisa - You didn't need to do anything with all those olders doing them for ya. *smile*

Did all that work serve you well in your present leadership abilities, Deb?

Midlife - Love it!

Suzyhayze - Your creative abilities help round out the strict perfectionism. :)

Anonymous said...

I'm the first born aka the favorite and the princess. goodday. Love your first born!

Jessica Nelson said...

I don't think it predicts it, but there are definitely some interesting patterns.

I'm the oldest. :-) Oldest daughter, oldest grandchild.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Hello "Anonymous" aka Queenie aka my first born daughter. I DO love you! KAKAKAAAAAAAAAAAAA

Jessica - it is all interesting, isn't it? Someone needs to update the scientific data/research to include blended family sibs and the modern world of social media to see if those factors change the pecking order stats. :)

Deb Shucka said...

I think birth order is a definite factor in all of those things. However, I also believe the mix is complex and that outcomes are never determined by just one thing. And I know I'm right because I'm the oldest. :-)

Amie said...

I'm an only child married to a youngest of 7. Can you imagine the battles of will we find ourselves in?

Ellie Belen Ambrose said...

Yes I do. I am the oldest of five children. And I know Mom loves me the best even though she won't admit it.

Anonymous said...

nice post. thanks.

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