The Order of Birth-Adler posited birth order as one of the major social influences in childhood from which the individual creates a style of life. Even though siblings have the same parents and live in the same house, they do not have identical social environments (Alfred Adler, p: 60). First born tend to be highly motivated to achieve. Second or middle children are good mediators and have superior cooperation skills. Youngest children in the family are typically outgoing and great at motivating other people, they are risk taker, humorous and question authority (Birth Order HYG-5279-95 Lorie M. Sutter).
According to Alder's birth of order theory the second born has, from the very beginning, a pacesetter in the older sibling. The second child is not alone as a child but always has the example of the older sibling's behavior as a model or a threat. The second child is motivated to catch up and surpass the older sibling. The second child must cope with the oldest child taking away attention by outperforming him or her. The child feels inadequate, tries to overcome the feeling by choosing perfectionism in some area of life. Also, the second born feels that no one cares about how he or she feels because the oldest child clearly does not. Consequently, to avoid pain the second born tries to suppress his or her own feelings.
The Birth Order Theory is valid for me because I am person that want to succeed but is not the only thing I think to do or rush in to. At the beginning I wanted to be like my brother but know I have my own dreams not base at all on my older brother. I think that change because my older brother lived far away with my father for many years and I with my mother and I felt I was the one who my mother paid more attention to, and also was the older one between my other two little brothers. Before that I was the one who ended the fights between my little brothers, the one who always wanted to help and encouraged them to do their homework.
