The Effects Of Birth Order On Personality

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First Born Children

The first born child is usually the child with the most attention directed at him/her. This common event is part of the reason this particular child turns out the way he/she does. There are two typical types of first born children, compliant and aggressive. The first born in your family can be either one of these two types, and have these typical traits:
 
Compliant Traits
 
  • People Pleasers
  • Crave Approval
  • Nurturers
  • Caregivers
  • Reliable
  • Concientious
  • Cooperative
  • Team Players
  • "Grin and bear it" mentatlity

Aggressive Traits

  • Movers and shakers
  • Natural leaders
  • Perfectionists
  • Driven
  • Conventional
  • Always have things under control
  • Assertive
  • Want things their way

These two types of first born children may seem very different, but they do share quite a few characteristics.

Common Traits

  • Energetic
  • Logical
  • Ambitious
  • Enterprising
  • Scholarly

Outdoor portrait of female graduate
For many first born children, success is imperative, as is the case with this young lady.

Strengths V.S. Weaknesses

Category
Strengths
Weaknesses
Traits
Greater level of confidence, taken seriously, patient, organized, strong powers of concentration, confidence to dream and plan, feel supported, and feel they will be respected for what they do.
Have an innate fear of being dethroned, perfectionists, overachievers, feel as though they are never good enough, tend to be selfish with possesions and attention.
Career
Often choose careers that require a high degree of precision such as: law, medicine, computer programming, or architecture, no gray area in work field, in control, often the boss or owner of company.
Do not like to be told what to do, have a hard time with creative projects, do not work well with no direction, do not gravitate towards jobs such as: sales, advertising, art, or music, as there is no structure, or stability in these careers.

Fun Facts
 
  • Famous first born children: Walter Conkrite, Dan Rather, Oprah Winfrey, Rush Limbaugh and Arsenio Hall
  • More than 1/2 of the U.S. Presidents were first born children
  • 21 of the 23 first astronauts were first born children
  • 2/3 of entrepreneurs are first born children

Copyright 2005, Samantha Murphy