It doesn’t matter if you’re the firstborn, a middle child, the baby of the family, or are an only child, odds are you’ve heard every stereotype in the book about where in the family you fall—and what that means for your personality. And while we can easily write off assumptions about firstborns being rude and bossy or heavy-handed tales of only children who make it through their whole life without ever learning to share, it might be worthwhile to give credence to some of what you’ve heard about birth order.
“When it comes to birth order, there can be some differences between the children based on their position in the family,” says Dr. Jaime Kulaga, Ph.D, LMHC. Though not every assumption you’ve heard may be true, we’ve rounded up 20 stereotypes about birth order that are all-too-accurate. And to find out how those other members of your family impacted who you are today, discover these 15 Ways Your Siblings Shape Who You Are.
1 First children are born leaders.
If you’re looking for a leader, look no further than your nearest firstborn. Thanks to their assumed position as a role model to their younger siblings, firstborns tend to take on leadership qualities at an early age. In fact, according to a survey conducted by membership-based CEO organization Vistage, firstborns are more likely to become CEOs than their younger siblings. And if you want to impart some leadership skills on the next generation, discover these 30 Ways to Make Your Daughter a Better Leader.
