[radmom65]

Maybe this isn't the right place to ask - but I guess it couldn't hurt.

I am an adoptee who is a biological firstborn and an adoptive laterborn who has just gone back to college for a degree in psychology and I have to write my first research paper. My subject: birth order personality from the adoptee perspective. It's a tough subject as there are not many journal articles on this specific subject - so for a little help and maybe some extra credit - I thought I could ask what type of personality do some of the adoptees here feel like they fall under.

It is said that a firstborn child is more organized, more ambitious and maybe even more neurotic that a laterborn or lastborn child as a lastborn child is more carefree and open to new experiences and more adventurous .

I guess I could be the example: I was a biological firstborn but I was reared a lastborn. I am NOT adventurous and I don't like change but I'm definately not very organized either - OK - I'll give you neurotic!!

So in my case - I do not feel that I fall with any of the so called "stereotypes" for any of the personality traits regarding either biological birth order or rearing birth order - so according to "me" - environment plays a bigger part on personality than anything else, but I'd really like to get the perspective of other adoptees to see what they feel played the biggest role in their personality development - biological birth order, rearing order or environment.

Thanks in advance for any information -

[loveajax]

I think this would be a really interesting study!

I don't know the answer but my "guess" would be birth order stuff is more a function of order in the family you are raised in.

My hubby is one of three adopted kids...he's the classic middle child (he also found out he is a middle child in his brith family). His sis, the "baby" is a classic baby...she reunited with her birth family and learned she has a younger sister. She doesn't really keep in touch because she says they have nothing in common...I wonder if it's that she doesn't like the "role" of big sis and not baby! And the oldest is a "classic" oldest as well.

My DD is the middle child in her birth family, but an only in ours. She's so young, but I don't see any of the "middle child" stuff with her...she's certainly not the mediator type (at least yet!).

I'd be curious to know what you find!

[Dickons]

Originally Posted by radmom65

It is said that a firstborn child is more organized, more ambitious and maybe even more neurotic that a laterborn or lastborn child as a lastborn child is more carefree and open to new experiences and more adventurous .

I guess I could be the example: I was a biological firstborn but I was reared a lastborn. I am NOT adventurous and I don't like change but I'm definately not very organized either - OK - I'll give you neurotic!!

I pretty much match your example. I am the first born and reared the baby of the family. I am not adventurous but if I do not think about it can do anything, dislike change unless I initiate it, unorganized but can organize exceptionally well when the mood hits me, kind of obsessive...but only sometimes, not ambitious but excel in anything I try so get there anyway...

Excellent topic, perhaps the birth order and the enviroment collided to make me so different? A different kind of yin and yang?

Kind regards,
Dickons

[St3v3n]

Dickons, are you and I the same person? You pretty much just described me to a T!

I was raised the younger of 2, but recently found out that I have 2 younger half-sibs on my bmom's side (don't know about my bdad yet).

I can't imagine that bio birth order would have much to do with personality. Of course genetics has a lot to do with it, but birth order doesn't determine which genes you get. The differences based on birth order have to be (it seems to me) based on influences and how you are treated while growing up.

[Dickons]

Steven,

Too funny...but it is an interesting topic and who knows what they will deduce in the future, perhaps the first borns get the best mix of the genes?

Cheers,
Dickons

[St3v3n]

Well, Dickons, you might be right! From all we know now, it's random, but there's a lot we don't know...

To update my earlier post, I found out over the weekend that I don't have 2 half sibs. I have 2 full sibs! Turns out, my bmom's husband is my bdad. They got married a year after I was born. The CI had the impression (and gave me the impression) that her husband and my bdad were two different people. So, I guess I can stop planning how I'm going to do that second search, trying to find my bdad!

[txrnr]

I'm the oldest no matter what family. I'm the oldest bio (with a full and half brothers) and the oldest in my family, with a younger brother. I'm organized, to a point, but otherwise pretty laid back. I may not fit the stereotype either.

[radmom65]

You know Dickons - I think that's a great way to put it - birth order and environment collided. As I did some more research over the weekend, I found that there were other threads here at Adoption.com that had the same subject matter and it just didn't seem that birth order really had anything to do with our personalities. It did seem that the older we get, environment plays a much bigger part on who were are and as younger children, the rearing order definately has something to do with it. As for what's in our genes - it appears that our little idiosyncrasies come from there.

I am still looking for more answers but I really appreciate the input I've gotten so far.

[BethVA62]

I'm the oldest sib in all my families.
I get fussed at almost daily for being too organized, and too ambitious, and wanting to change all I can.

I'm always planning the next adventure. I love change, and am too ambitious in organizing it all when things ultimately do change LOL which leads us to the extreme neurotic part of me!

If I compare myself to my little brothers I was raised with... with the stereotypes presented, I should be the youngest of the bunch.

[BethVA62]

Originally Posted by St3v3n

Well, Dickons, you might be right! From all we know now, it's random, but there's a lot we don't know...

To update my earlier post, I found out over the weekend that I don't have 2 half sibs. I have 2 full sibs! Turns out, my bmom's husband is my bdad. They got married a year after I was born. The CI had the impression (and gave me the impression) that her husband and my bdad were two different people. So, I guess I can stop planning how I'm going to do that second search, trying to find my bdad!

Wow! what big and wonderful news
Congrats!

[kakuehl]

Hmm... I'm the oldest and I'm definitely not organized or adventurous! D is the oldest in his adoptive family and in my family. In his bfather's family he has a younger half-brother and several step-brothers and one step-sister. (I think his bdad may have adopted at least one of the younger siblings.)

What interests me is that the son I raised as the oldest of two has always acted like a "middle" child long before he knew he even had an older brother.

[St3v3n]

Thanks Beth! I posted a more complete update over in the Search & Reunion forum, if you're interested.