Birth OrderTheory

Mr. KochPsychology

Forest Lake High School

Being born first, last, or in the middle gives a

person a certain role in the family

Birth Order

Have parents to themselves Want and are the center of attention A lot of pressure, perfectionism Strong need for approval

Only Child & Oldest

Doesn’t have to compete with brothers and

sisters Tends to be more relaxed and self confident Experience special pressures to be perfect Sensitive to being left out Needs periods of solitude Treated as “little adult”

Only Child

Adopts parental values Tends to be more assertive/aggressive Highly motivated to achieve More strong willed and stubborn Among most successful, but do have anxiety

and fear they will not achieve standards

Oldest Child

“The Axioms of the Firstborn”

Everyone depends on me I can’t get away with anything It’s tough being the oldest I was never allowed to be a child If I don’t do it, it won’t get done If I don’t do it, it won’t get done right I never said I wanted to be a role model Boy, if I had acted the way you do…! Mom never let me do that when I was your age Why do I have to do it? They never do anything

around here.

Oldest Child

Feeling of being left out Need extra love Not jealous of newborn Sibling rivalry less intense Mediator, negotiator, avoids conflict Independent, likes a lot of people/activity Competitive and ambitious Uses charm to arbitrate or manipulate to get

one’s way As a result, may experience much success

Middle Child

Less expected of them Being baby of family may inhibit emotional

growth More spontaneous, original, and creative In performing jobs where they are “on stage” A pleasant companion As adults may want to be independent

Youngest Child

What is your teacher?

Create complicated projects for students to

complete They like structure and order in the classroom They are happiest when students are sitting in

nicely arranged desks, straight in a line Students are quiet and do as they are told The oldest child teacher will be frustrated

unless they learn how to achieve organization in a different way

Oldest Child Teacher

Is interested in the psychological well-being as

well as the academic achievement of the student

They seek out the rebellious students in hope of influencing them in a more positive direction

They try to achieve order through mutual respect and understanding

Middle Child Teacher

Are more creative, fun loving, adjust well to

noise and disorder Teachers allow students to take more

responsibility so they won’t have to do everything themselves

Youngest Child Teacher