Is Birth Order Personality A Thing?
You've probably heard about the birth order theory of personality before, but you may not have dug too deeply into it or thought about some of the finer details that go along with it. Some people believe the theory has merit, while others don't believe it has anything to do with their lives. If you're wondering why you are the way you are, however, checking out the traits of older, middle, younger, and only children may well give you some insight.
What is birth order personality?
Birth order personality theory says that your birth order may determine some of the traits you possess and learn. That is to say, whether you are the firstborn, youngest, middle, or only child in your specific family—or, of course, are an only child.
The theory of personality differences being based on birth order originated quite a while ago. In the late 1920's, to be exact. Alfred Adler is the psychiatrist who first came up with the theory, and since then, birth order has been considered to have a very big impact on who you will become as a person. Many have looked at the traits describing someone born first, last, middle, or only and found that these things are very similar to where they fit in their own lives.
In fact, many studies have been done to look at personality and birth order to see if there is a correlation, and we're not just talking about during Adler's time. More recent studies have been conducted and researchers have made some discoveries, including a higher level of honesty and dominance in firstborns, a higher level of conscientiousness and diligence in middle children, and a higher level of socialization and openness in youngest children. Finally, those who are only children are outgoing and sociable but also more nervous than their peers.
How does birth order personality affect you?
Whether you’re an oldest child, middle child, or youngest child may impact you and the type of person that you become. Parents may treat children differently based on where they fall on this spectrum and siblings may treat each other differently based on birth order too, researchers have found.
The oldest child
The firstborn child is said to be a natural leader and may even infantilize their younger siblings regardless of how old they are. Conservative but more power-oriented, these individuals tend to take charge from an early age because they may be responsible for their younger siblings on a frequent basis. Because of this they also tend to be more caring, more likely to jump in when something needs doing, and more interested in being parents themselves.
These children may have an inherent ability to take on responsibilities, likely because they've had more responsibilities than their siblings all their lives.
The middle child
Next up is the middle child, and they are known to struggle to be better than their older sibling in any way possible. Because they always have someone to try to "catch," they tend to push themselves harder and faster and may reach developmental milestones even faster than their older sibling did. They are very ambitious, but they're not selfish. Rather, they set goals for themselves that are higher than average and tend to push themselves to achieve everything they can.
While they have a higher number of problems and even failures because of these high standards, they learn from an early age how to cope with difficulties and become even stronger as a result.
The youngest child
We come to the youngest child now, which is the one that seems to get more attention and more coddling from not only the parents but also other siblings. This can lead them to be less independent and less capable of accomplishing things on their own, though they tend to have a lot of self-motivation to do even better than their older siblings.
As a result, they tend to push themselves hard and tend to achieve even more than their older siblings, becoming extremely successful. On the other hand, they can be irresponsible and frivolous compared to their siblings.
The only child
Finally, we come to the only child. These children don't have anyone to compete within their generation, and as a result, they tend to become competitive with their fathers instead. They may become dependent or even self-centered.
Because they have no siblings around, only children may have trouble learning how to interact with peers and may become perfectionists. In turn, their perfectionism may push them to achieve whatever goals they set for themselves without fail.
Learning positive skills for your future
So, what do you do to start working toward those skills? Once you define the skills you want to build, you can start working towards them in any way you want. Actively pursuing things that stretch your boundaries and your capabilities is one way to start the process, and it's going to make a huge difference in the way that you live your life. The key is making sure that you continue to push yourself and that you're working towards improving yourself and what's out there for you.
BetterHelp is a great way to get the help that you're looking for. With BetterHelp, you'll be matched with a therapist who can help you with whatever you're going through, whenever you need them. That's because although you set appointments with BetterHelp, you won't need to go to a doctor's office for sessions. Instead, you can get comfortable in your own home and have your sessions from there.
Online therapy becomes more popular every year. Much research has been done about how effective online therapy is, and study after study has found that online therapy is as effective—if not more so—as in-person therapy for any number of mental health issues.
BetterHelp is a completely online service that connects you with some of the best therapists in the country, and all you have to do is log on and connect to the service. Once you do, you'll be able to find someone that you feel comfortable with and get started on the path to developing new skills and improving your overall life. You'll be surprised just how much you can accomplish with this service and just how much you're going to learn about yourself.
Takeaway
This doesn't mean that other skills can't be learned. It doesn't mean that the dependence you may have by being an only child can't be turned into a strong level of independence. It does mean that you can and should work on these skills to help yourself become more well-rounded and prepared for what is going to come at you throughout your life. It may take a little more work because you didn't learn those skills as a child, but you absolutely can learn them. If you're struggling to relate with siblings, help your children get along, or understand complex family dynamics, consider reaching out to an online therapist for guidance and support.
What is psychology?
Instructors and philosophers commonly ask this question in an academic setting. Its official definition by the American Psychological Association (APA) is simply "The study of the mind and behavior.
It's essential to examine and re-examine the basic definition of psychology and its function over time, as the science itself is ever-changing, and the answers may evolve with new discoveries in the field.
How do humans and animals behave?
This question is often explored in experimental psychology and comparative psychology (also referred to as ethology or behavioral biology). It aims to examine humans' and animals' observable actions, reactions, and behaviors to understand patterns and underlying mechanisms.
What are the underlying causes of behaviors?
Psychologists seek to understand the factors, both internal (such as genetics and brain structure) and external (such as environment and social influences), that contribute to human behavior.
Some schools of psychology that focus on this type of research include biopsychologists who study brain physiology and function, and cognitive psychologists, who also explore how the brain works to influence how we think and learn. Research psychologists study environmental and genetic causes, as well.
How do we learn and acquire new behaviors?
This question delves into learning, memory, and cognition processes to understand how individuals acquire, store, and use information to adapt and respond to their environments. Specialists in this field include developmental psychologists, social scientists, and behavioral psychologists.
How do we perceive and experience the world?
Psychologists study sensory processes, perception, and consciousness to understand how individuals perceive, experience, and make sense of the world around them. Cognitive psychology and neurobiological psychology explore the mechanisms and causes of these functions.
These five basic questions provide a foundation for the study of psychology, and researchers often delve deeper into specific aspects of these questions to gain a clearer understanding of human behavior and mental processes.
What are the four main types of psychology?
Psychology is a diverse field with many subdisciplines and specializations, each with its own set of questions and areas of focus. But there are four main branches or types of psychology encompassing a wide range of topics and research areas:
1. Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychology is perhaps the most well-known branch of psychology. It focuses on assessing, diagnosing, and treating mental disorders and emotional issues in individuals—typically using psychotherapeutic techniques (talk therapy).
Clinical psychologists may keep a general practice or specialize in a particular age group or mental condition. They work in group settings, hospitals, mental health clinics, or own practices, and they use various therapeutic approaches to help individuals improve their mental health.
Applications of clinical psychology include:
- Adult Counseling— Helps adults explore their emotional and behavioral functioning and interpersonal relationships. There are many goals for this type of counseling, including addressing cognitive and behavioral issues, improving social, professional, and personal interactions, and cultivating better overall mental health.
- Child And Adolescent Counseling— Involves treatment for children from the infant stage to the adolescent phases of growth. These age groups require an individualized therapeutic approach to accommodate their unique developmental milestones and life experiences.
Child and adolescent psychologists may focus on emotional, cognitive, developmental, and behavioral issues. They may work with the patient on topics like change, trauma and loss, social and relationship challenges, the home and school environment, and coping with stress.
- Geriatric Counseling— Like children and adolescents, older adults (typically defined as 65 years or older) require more specialized care focusing on their unique psychology and physiology. Geriatric psychologists may work with older adults on topics like memory and coordination, trauma and loss, isolation and loneliness, helplessness and dependency, significant life changes, and aging within relationships.
- Family Therapy— Family therapy aims to explore the dynamics of interfamilial relationships to facilitate positive changes in attitudes and behaviors. Family therapists typically work within the context of the client's relationships, but part of that may include addressing individual issues such as low self-confidence, stress, addiction, anxiety, and depression.
- School Psychologists— Social psychologists specializing in school psychology work with teachers and administrators in elementary and secondary schools to cultivate a safe, happy, and productive learning environment. They often work with children, adolescents, and their families to determine if a child needs help with behavioral, developmental, and cognitive issues to improve academic performance, create a positive school experience, and establish healthy peer relationships.
2. Cognitive Psychology
Cognitive psychology studies the mental processes related to perception, learning, problem-solving, decision-making, psycholinguistics, attention, thinking, memory, sensory functioning, motor control, and consciousness.
Understanding these processes allows cognitive psychologists to work with patients in identifying distorted thought patterns that influence emotions and behaviors. With this knowledge, patients learn to develop healthier ways of thinking and shape problem behaviors into functional ones.
Like other schools of psychology, the ultimate goal of cognitive psychology is to improve the patient's mental state and quality of life. Cognitive psychologists may:
- Anxiety Disorders
- Depressive Disorders
- Treat Substance Abuse Disorders
- Treat Personality Disorders
- Eating Disorders
- Trauma
- Stress Management
- Relationship Challenges
- Challenges In Work Or Academic Performance
- Challenges Caused By Health Problems
3. Behavioral Psychology
This discipline attempts to identify the origins of why people think and act in specific ways. It works on the assumption that behaviors are the product of how we perceive and interact with our environment.
There are two main types of conditioning in behavioral psychology:
- Classical Conditioning—Changes behaviors by repeatedly pairing a neutral stimulus with a naturally occurring stimulus. Over time, the subject develops the same reaction to the neutral stimulus.
- Operant (Or Instrumental) Conditioning—Change occurs via the association of rewards and punishments as consequences for behavior. It assumes that if a reward follows a behavior, the subject will likely repeat it. If a punishment follows a behavior, the subject is less likely to repeat it.
4. Biopsychology
Biopsychologists research human behaviors like motivation, emotion, memory, social interaction, attention, and decision-making within the context of brain functioning and evolution. Although studies may involve human subjects, biophysiology research typically focuses on non-human mammals.
Sub-fields under the umbrella of biopsychology include:
- Psychophysiology
- Psychopharmacology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Psychopharmacology
- Comparative Psychology
- Physiological Psychology
The evolution of these four psychological approaches has given rise to many subdisciplines, including:
- Abnormal Psychology— Focuses on the study of abnormal behavioral patterns, thoughts, and emotions. In this context, "abnormal" refers to characteristics such as deviance, distress, dysfunction, and danger. Though it is presently used to study and treat mental health disorders, the area of abnormal psychology is a subject of debate among the scientific community, with some claiming that the concept contributes to the stigmatization of mental illness.
- Industrial And Organizational Psychology—This type of psychology studies human behavior within the context of organizations and the workplace. It focuses on how topics like motivation, interpersonal relationship skills, and personality type are understood and used to solve problems and streamline operations in business.
Industrial-organizational psychologists often have a specialized degree and work as human resource specialists, executive coaches, and workforce planning specialists. Industrial-organizational psychology is used to improve areas of hiring and recruitment, workplace motivation, performance measurement, training and development, and organizational development.
Industrial-organizational psychology is also used to assess areas of consumer behavior and marketing strategy.
- Forensic Psychology—Uses scientific knowledge of human behavior and motivation to provide insight into criminal activity. Forensic psychologists work with law enforcement, attorneys, victims of crime, witnesses, and at-risk youth. Criminal psychologists focus on understanding criminal behavior and the justice system rather than victims, witnesses, and juries.
- Social Psychology— A social psychologist aims to help people understand how they view themselves as members of a larger society and how that perception affects one's choices, beliefs, and behaviors.
- Health Psychology— Determines how biological, psychological, behavioral, and social factors influence individual health, fitness, and illness.
- Rehabilitation Psychology—Specialists in rehabilitation psychology work with individuals who have chronic health conditions or disabilities to help them cope with the issues that come with having physical challenges, address any co-occurring mental health challenges and improve their quality of life.
- Sport And Performance Psychology—This type of psychology uses science to study the relationship between human psychology and its effect on an individual's abilities and performance in exercise and sport.
How does psychology help us understand human behavior?
Psychology uses different scientific, research-based approaches to explain why individuals act in specific ways. Many psychological disciplines work in tandem to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the human condition. For example, neuropsychologists may work with behavioral psychologists to determine if there's a bi-directional relationship between brain function and behavior. Cognitive psychologists may work with clinical psychologists to assess personality psychology and pathology in patients with severe mental disorders.
What kind of changes are possible through psychology?
There are many areas in which psychology can work to create change. A few examples include:
- Organizational psychology can help companies cultivate a corporate environment that encourages home/life balance for their employees and supports their mental health.
- Clinical psychology can help change individual lives by treating mental health conditions and supporting the patient's overall health.
- Biological psychology can uncover organic, physical causes for mental illness— not only boosting an individual's quality of life by developing effective treatments but also helping to reduce the stigma associated with some mental conditions.
How do we use psychology in everyday life?
Psychology is used in every aspect of daily life— from how an individual's self-concept influences their behaviors and decisions to how organizations can improve their bottom line.
How does psychological well-being influence quality of life?
Psychological well-being influences quality of life in every way. When an individual is psychologically healthy, they may:
- Build and maintain healthier relationships.
- Achieve better productivity at work or school.
- Establish a greater sense of purpose for helping others.
- Cultivate and maintain better physical health.
- Influence others to improve their mental health and well-being.
What is the most effective way to study psychology?
One may effectively study psychology using the same strategies as studying any discipline:
- Be active in class by taking notes that summarize the material's key points. It's also a good idea to attend class prepared by reading the assigned materials before the lecture/class discussion.
- Schedule and keep regular study times.
- Study actively by quizzing yourself and summarizing the main points of the material without assistance from your notes or resources.
- Study on your own first, then study with a group of your peers.
How can positive psychology change and improve society?
Positive psychology is defined by the APA as "A field of psychological theory and research that focuses on the psychological states, individual traits or character strengths, and social institutions that enhance subjective well-being and make life most worth living."
Positive psychology can help cultivate well-being in individuals, who, in turn, are more likely to contribute positively to their relationships, communities, and society. It operates under the tenet that a positive mental state can also lead to better physical health and overall quality of life that may translate to far-reaching positive influence on public health.
How reliable are psychology studies?
A psychological study is generally considered reliable if its' findings can be replicated over time by different researchers while maintaining consistency. Because of its rapid growth as a social science, there is much effort to either confirm or refute the validity of studies in different disciplines in psychology.
However, a wide body of research within the past decade calls into question the reliability of psychological studies, going so far as to question its status as a science altogether. However, it's important to remember that quantifying psychological phenomena through research is a complex endeavor. As such, some experts posit that research in psychology may not be well served by using the same methodological strategies as other natural sciences. For example, a 2020 paper published in the Journal of Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science suggests that "blind adherence to natural-science principles has not advanced but, instead, substantially impeded the development of psychology as a science."
Can you learn psychology on your own?
Because of the many resources available, studying psychology on your own is possible.
Yale's Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Social Psychology from the University of Queensland are free courses offered online to provide an overview and guidance for individuals who are beginning to learn about psychology. '
In addition to university resources, there are many psychology podcasts, magazine resources, and publications (both online and in paper circulation) that can enhance and deepen your understanding of psychology. However, it is important to note that learning the fundamentals is the first step in an extended educational and experiential journey if you'd like to establish a career path in psychology.
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