1. Birth Order’s Affect on Personality Notes for paper that goes with Unit 5 Ch 14 Taken from: The Birth Order Book By Dr. Kevin Leman

2. Activity: Birth order’s influence on personality You are going to write a paper on how your birth order has shaped your personality AND the personality of someone else in your family or a close friend who has a different birth order than you do. Explain how your birth order’s characteristics apply to you and him/her and if some don’t, explain why. Provide examples from your lives to elaborate. If you are a 1 st born or only child, you must write about someone else who is a middle child or baby (because 1 st borns and only children are very similar). You are only writing about YOURSELF and 1 OTHER PERSON. at least 3 pages typed Times New Roman size 12 font.This paper must be at least 3 pages typed (I suggest 1½-2 pages about yourself and 1-1½ pages about the other person. Times New Roman size 12 font. Double space. Do not alter the margins. Worth 100 points!!!

3. 1 st Borns “Guinea pigs” for parents Learn from adults. Due to lots of attention, they often develop a lot of confidence. 2 types: The nurturers/caregivers (eager to please and often taken advantage of) and the aggressive (assertive and strong-willed) Thrive on being in control, on time, and organized High achievers Leaders – often serious Precise and picky Sticklers for rules – put pressure on themselves Take the brunt of the blame and discipline Analytical – love to ask questions and strong powers of concentration Judge themselves by what others think of them Critical Perfectionists – hate mistakes, can lead to procrastination due to a fear of failure (may become fearful, anxious, depressed, + have feelings of guilt) May mask it w/ a messy desk or something similar, but they still usually know where everything is.

4. Only Children “Super 1 st borns” – make sure to look at 1 st born notes More confident and articulate Logical and scholarly Self-centered – didn’t have to share attention or toys growing up

5. Middle Children Hardest to generalize – too many possibilities Each child is usually most influenced by the next oldest child – usually goes off in a different direction (especially if they are the same gender) UNLESS they feel they can successfully compete – if they do, role reversal may occur where the 2 nd born takes on the characteristics of the 1 st born and vice versa. Often feel left out – tend to find lots of friends Most secretive of all birth orders Probably embarrass easily Likely mentally tough and independent Learn to negotiate and compromise Paradox: may be a quiet loner or friendly and outgoing, impatient or laid-back, very competitive or not competitive, rebel or peacemaker, aggressive or avoids conflict.

6. Babies Love attention and making people laugh Entertainers Outgoing Charming Sometimes absentminded Carefree and vivacious Often act before thinking Rebellious Temperamental Spoiled Manipulators Impatient Feel like they’re not taken seriously Feel like they live in older siblings’ shadows Have an “I’ll show them!” attitude Suckers for praise Good salesmen

7. Possible Exceptions Role reversal – see middle child notes Spacing – after more than 5 yrs of separation, a new birth order is often established Genetics Sibling death/serious illness – if it occurs early, the next sibling may be “bumped up” to the next birth order Adoptions – depends on when it occurs Birth order position of the parents – first born parents tend to run a tighter ship Blending of families – stepsiblings may influence birth order if the families merge when the children are still very young Gender of the siblings – lower birth order siblings may have many 1 st born characteristics if they are the 1 st male or female in their families Multiple births – twins/triplets skew any order. If twins, the one who is “older” usually makes sure everyone knows it + takes on older child characteristics + the other acts more like a baby.

8. Grading: 20 points: Grammar, spelling (minus 1 point for every 3 minor errors + 1 point for every major error I notice). 20 points: Organization 60 points: Content – accurately described how characteristics applied OR explained why they didn’t. Minus 20% if not typed. Plus 10% for 1 day early. Minus 50% for 1 day late. No credit after 1 day late!!!