What Is Oldest Child Syndrome? Oldest Child Syndrome is believed by some to be evidence of common characteristics that can be attributed to birth order. These traits of first-born children include a sense of entitlement, responsibility, and ambition.
Firstborn child personality
Adlerian theory states that firstborn children tend to be authoritarian and feel entitled to power. They find themselves in leadership positions as adults. Research also shows that firstborns may have slightly higher intelligence than their younger siblings.
Oldest Child Syndrome: The oldest child tends to be most responsible and exhibit leadership qualities thanks to their position as firstborn. But they can also fall into a trap of perfectionism and may need to learn how to loosen up.
Oldest child syndrome comprises the behavioral changes exhibited by your firstborn after the birth of their younger sibling. They may show dominating tendencies, develop an unhealthy competitive attitude, and become controlling.
Oldest Child - “The Achiever”
Due to the nature of first-time parenting, many often employ stricter rules, high levels of attention, and trial-and-error. As a result, firstborn children tend to be responsible, well-behaved, and possess strong leadership qualities.
The first born may experience certain emotions differently than the middle and youngest child or visa versa. According to Adler, the first born is more susceptible to depression because of high expectations of parents and suddenly losing the attention due to another sibling being born.
In patriarchal cultures, firstborn sons are given special authority and honor, along with the responsibility of managing their family's inheritance. Firstborn sons are considered uniquely qualified to represent their fathers, purely because of their birth order.
An article in Scientific American explains how the entire theory of newborns looking like their dad due to evolution and fathers recognizing their offspring at birth and during caveman days isn't true – according to current studies.
It's hard to be the big sib. No matter how old you are, you're expected to take more responsibility, even when you're a very young person yourself. That's one reason that oldest children are often described as responsible, sensitive, perfectionistic, and a bit more anxious than their siblings.
A more recent study in the same journal employed a larger set of photos than were used by either Christenfeld and Hill or Brédart and French in their studies and still concluded that most infants resemble both parents equally.
They are often diligent, reliable, structured, goal-oriented, conscientious, and independent. Firstborn children are often high achievers, perhaps because they receive so much undivided attention and praise for “firsts” accomplishments from their parents before their younger siblings arrive.
Younger siblings may be especially vulnerable to trauma because they are in an earlier developmental stage than the rest of the family. While older siblings and parents will be much more equipped to cope with the stress, the youngest child may feel left behind or not understand how to handle their emotions.
While the youngest sibling is usually the funniest kid, mom and dad favor the youngest for a reason that might surprise you. According to a new study conducted by Brigham Young University's School of Family Life, the youngest sibling of the family tends to be mom and dad's favorite child because of perception.
Soz middle kids
You've probably heard it before and brushed it off if you're a second, third or fourth+ child - but it's true: the eldest sibling is the smartest, according to research.
A condition is considered Y-linked if the altered gene that causes the disorder is located on the Y chromosome, one of the two sex chromosomes in each of a male's cells. Because only males have a Y chromosome, in Y-linked inheritance, a variant can only be passed from father to son.
A recent study has found that it's not the youngest child that's liked the most. It's actually the eldest! While eldest children around the world have had to be the example for their younger siblings and parents being extra strict on them, it looks like there was a good reason.
Because of the strict rules imposed and constant anxiety felt by a first-time parent (yes, babies pick up on your emotions and are affected by them), the firstborn can often be negatively impacted. In her book Birth Order Blues, Meri Wallace explains these effects.
The University of Edinburgh study reported that the oldest child tends to have a higher IQ and thinking skills than their younger siblings.
Pros of having one child
An only child gets his/her parent's undivided attention. An only child does not have to compete with other siblings for his/her parents' attention. An only child will not be compared (intentionally or not) with another sibling.
Children with generalized anxiety disorder are 3.5 times more likely to have a mother with generalized anxiety disorder. Children with social anxiety disorder are almost 3 times more likely to have a father with anxiety disorder.
Children who have older brothers become more aggressive over time, on average, than those who have older sisters. Older siblings with younger sisters become less aggressive.
Researchers have found a correlation between risk-taking and being the last-born sibling.
“Firstborn children can be goal-oriented, outspoken, stubborn, independent, and perfectionistic,” Smelser says, and when you look at the way firstborns are nurtured, it starts to make sense why. “These traits are often reinforced by parents through their interactions with the child,” she says.