In studies, 85% of middle children showed such openness, compared with 50% of firstborns. These middle children used their personality traits to help them gain success.Īs a middle child, you may not be a perfectionist, but you may be more open to taking risks and to new ideas. Anthony, Charles Darwin, Madonna, Bill Gates, and Nabisco CEO Michael Gerstner. Some well-known middle children have been or continue to be great negotiators, trailblazers, and fighters for justice. Among them are Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Susan B. This may come from feeling second-best compared with your older or younger siblings.

But it seems that your status also can drive you to excel. ‌ Outstanding Qualities of Middle Childrenĭespite how you may see yourself as the middle child, you will learn how to act, make friends, and come into your own by watching your siblings or peers. For example, if the older sibling is a scholar, the second-born may focus on athletics. Still, they tend to take up something that an older sibling isn't so great at. This stems from their feeling misunderstood by their families. They’re also more likely to move the farthest away. They're often the first sibling to move out of the house. They come to believe that their parents don’t care about them. Looking back as adults, they express a negative view of childhood. So, even though many can be great when working in groups, some middle children can struggle when working with others.įeeling overshadowed. They may have a stronger sense of not belonging than their siblings do. Not as family-oriented as their siblings. They're also trustworthy friends and work well as team members. They're good at being mediators and want fairness in situations. Still, they're less likely to act out against their parents. They're also less religious than their siblings and parents. Characteristics of a Middle Childĭo you, or does someone you know, have middle-child syndrome? Think about whether you know any middle children with these personality traits: But it is more likely to be true for males than for females. For example, they find that there may be a relationship between birth order and being outgoing. Many researchers have disagreed with Adler’s theories.Įven researchers who believe in that middle-child syndrome have trouble applying it to all middle children. Still, middle-child syndrome isn't recognized as an official condition. He said that each child should be looked at as an individual and that each child would differ based on their order of succession. He believed that how many siblings a child has can affect the child’s potential.Īdler thought that even though children grew up in the same household, their personalities wouldn’t be the same. Though many experts think birth order is important to personality and family structure, not everyone is on board.Ī psychology pioneer named Alfred Adler introduced the idea that birth order affects the development of a child. Birth order ranges from firstborn, or oldest to second-born, third-born, and so forth to youngest, sometimes called the last born. Middle-child syndrome is part of the psychology behind birth order. ‌Īs a result, you may take on certain personality traits that are different from those of your older and younger siblings.

They see 'middle-child syndrome' as the idea that if you're neither the oldest child nor the youngest, you get less attention from your parents and feel “caught in the middle”. Many experts who study personality believe that your family’s birth order plays a role in your development. Here’s what to know about “middle-child syndrome.” ‌ What Is Middle-Child Syndrome? If a couple has two children and a third on the way, will the birth of their third child affect the personality of the second-born? Some psychologists think so.

Middle child syndrome meme