Socializing the Individual Influence of Birth Order

Characteristics of 1 st Borns: Perfectionistic Reliable Conscientious Well organized Goal-oriented Achiever

Classic tendency of first-born is leadership. Fifty-two percent of United States presidents were first-borns.

Only Child “Super” first-born Many of same characteristics as the 1 st born

Characteristics of the Middle Child: Flexible Diplomatic Generous Social Competitive Risk-taker/ rebellious

Last Borns or the "Babies" Outgoing charmers Personable manipulators Affectionate Temperamental Spoiled Impatient

Effects of Isolation Effects of Isolation on Personality Development

Case Studies of Children in Isolation

Harlow’s Monkeys Will the monkeys prefer a “wire mother” or a comforting mother?

Spitz’s study Studied infants in an orphanage Infants were not nurtured, cuddled, or held All biological needs were met What happened to these children?

Spitz’s study After 1 year scores on developmental tests dropped on average from 124 to 72 After 2 years 15 had died, 9 had been removed from the institution, the remaining were severely mentally retarded

Effects of Isolation Socioemotional problems Cognitive problems Lack of biological growth & poor health (psychosocial dwarfism) Deficiency in such skills as: Speaking, walking, emotional expression

Examples of Isolation Anna – no human contact, barely kept alive, found at age 6, died at age 10 with the ability of a toddler Isabelle – kept isolated with her mother: at age 6 could only crawl and make grunting sounds – after 2 years reached the level of her peers

Genie – Isolated from infant until 13 yrs No interaction Had only a potty chair and a cage in the room with her Found at age 13 with the skills of a one-year old never progressed past the ability of a 4 year old