Only child. What does this have to do with anything? One of the other threads asked what you think you're like, and a lot of us started mentioning we were only children and how we were all very similar.

So, what place are you in your family? Only child, youngest, oldest, middle? Do you think it influences your personality, or are you just you? What has it made you into? What kind of personality traits do you have because of it?

Typical beliefs about birth order personality influences can be found here and here (the second link has the most thorough info). Are any of your personality traits similar to the ones mentioned in the article?

Enjoy the discussion. :)

I'm a younger sibling, with one older brother. I guess that makes me a bit immature and dependent, at least I would think. My parents told me I was prone to crying when I was little, while my brother was outgoing and friendly. I guess he was protective of me, which is why I rely on him for many things. =3

I'm the youngest of two siblings. I think possibly as a result I'm a bit less mature than my older brother.

I second Ling.

I'm the youngest out of three and ... I don't really agree with hardly anything either of them say about the youngest. :sweat:
Mostly, I'm not an extrovert. So everything else just kind of falls in place after that. Not charming or attention-seeking, not a clown, definitely don't want to be a salesman... :lol:

Whenever I read these (birth order articles) I always also read the only child part, as both my brothers were out of the house by the time I was 9 or so. P:
I find that I match more of being an only child than being the youngest.

I didn't want to cheat by looking at the personality types, so I'll post what I am and the personality I think of myself as possessing before I compare it. :lol:

I'm an only child. I feel like that's made me confident, social, spoiled, a little prideful, extremely empathetic and mature beyond my years. Even when I was a little kid, I wanted to sit at the grown-up table. I wanted to be in their discussions.

Okay, looking now:

Positives: Only-borns are the mega-movers of the world. They are task-orientated; tend to be extremely well organised, highly conscientious and dependable. They are keen on facts, ideas and details and feel extremely comfortable with responsibility.

Negatives: The negative characteristics of only-borns can be tough to handle. They are often unforgiving, very demanding, hate to admit they're wrong and usually don't accept criticism well. To others, they seem very sensitive and indeed, their feelings are easily hurt.

The first-borns often are high achievers and are very conscientious, reliable, and loyal. They’re also scholarly (not all the time, though) and feel better being in control of a situation (I know I do).

Why? The parents. It’s the first baby and while there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation on the parents’ part, there’s also a lot of pressure and demand from them to be the best.

This can result in two basic types: compliant and wanting to please, or strong-willed and aggressive. (It’s possible to have traits of both.)

First-borns often have to grow up fast and become “little adults” before they’re ready.

If the first is a female, she may be another “mother” to her siblings. If there’s a youngest brother, he may be “mothered” by sister—even through adulthood! With the oldest brother, however, it’s mutual respect and a friendly rivalry.

A special note: “Only” children tend to have first-born characteristics, only more intensified.

Interesting. :lol: They make me sound like I'm supposed to be very stiff and orderly. If only they could see the mess my room is in!

I'm the oldest of two. But according the second link, my brother acts like the first-born and I don't act as nothing at all. The only trait I have is being agressive. That's it. Honestly, I think that isn't as reliable as it seems, parents shape our education and traits, not the brothers. For example, my parents were extremely strict with me (that is to say, for example, I could never be out of bed after nine, even after I turned 18) I had to make my own rules or they wouldn't let me grow up, in a sense. As for my brother, they're very relaxed, and as a result, he's kind of a bitch. I don't follow their rules because I'm a grown woman, he doesn't follow because he can get away with everything.

I'm also definitely not a high-achiever, my brother is.

I'm the last born of two and the first link infomation says everything that I'm not! Haha, very untrue.

Ok, I read the second article and I am an only child, and that didn't describe me at all haha My husband on the other hand is the exact middle child in a group of seven kids, and he didn't fit the mold either! His oldest sister though however, the first born, fits the description perfectly. I do beleive that the number of siblings you have helps to mold who you are, but I don't think there is an instruction manual if you will, on how you will be because of it.

I am the eldist of my fathers and the baby of my mothers.....So depending on which family I'm arounds, I'm either eldist or youngest....

I'm the youngest of 3 kids. It's a good thing my siblings have awesome clothes cuzz I love their hand-me-downs ^.^

If You’re the Youngest …
Now a few words about the youngest, last but definitely not least in the family. These are true “people persons” or life of the party. The babies are often charming, friendly manipulators who have a large desire to make their mark on the world. They’re also rather absentminded, and tend to have real highs and deep lows. They crave attention and are often the family clown or entertainer. People-oriented vocations are their forte. This group makes great salespeople.
Last-borns can be cocky, however, and they don’t worry about the after-effects of their actions or decisions. While they’re uncomplicated and affectionate, they can also be rebellious, temperamental, spoiled, and impatient.
This birth order could benefit by learning to be neat, accepting more responsibility, be less self-centered, and admit their faults without blaming others. In addition, try not to hog the spotlight.

Via How Your Birth Order Shapes Your Personality - Page 2 - DivineCaroline

lets see... I'm not a people person. I prefer vacations where I can just go off and hike on my own. When I'm alone, I'm very introverted and down on myself, but when I'm with others I throw on a mask of ego and cocky-ness, like I'm trying to prove I'm just as good as anyone else. I accept more responsibility than either of my siblings and work harder for any form of acceptance and thanks.

Although I have three half siblings and one step sibling, I consider myself to be an only child because I've never met one of the half siblings and I only used to see the others when I visited my dad.

According to the second article, I should either be a people-pleaser or strong-willed (or a mix), high achiever, conscientious, reliable, loyal, scholarly, feel better being in control of a situation, and grow up fast.

I used to be a big people-pleaser, but lately I've also been pretty strong-willed.
I also used to let everyone make all the decisions for me, but now I prefer having some control.
And I used to work hard, but now if I don't find it interesting my eyes will glaze over while my mind goes off to LaLa Land.

As for if I think being an only child affected me~ Yes, but the people around me have to.
My mom was depressed, my grandma loves kids, my first best friend was an extreme extrovert with a close-knit family (I thought it was odd/uncomfortable). . .

I am an only child and of all these articles say, this is the only piece in which there is any fit.

Negatives: The negative characteristics of only-borns can be tough to handle. They are often unforgiving, very demanding, hate to admit they're wrong and usually don't accept criticism well. To others, they seem very sensitive and indeed, their feelings are easily hurt.

I am indeed quite sensitive.
I am nowhere near any high achiever or scholar, that's my bestie and she is the oldest of two(her younger sis is adopted but I suppose it still applies).

Im and the youngest of three. Some of it fits, while most of it doesnt. I'll try and explain under each quote.

The babies are often charming, friendly manipulators who have a large desire to make their mark on the world. They’re also rather absentminded, and tend to have real highs and deep lows. They crave attention and are often the family clown or entertainer. People-oriented vocations are their forte. This group makes great salespeople

Definatly not a people person, and being the family clown/entertainer is WAY off the mark. Im the quiet one. And I most definatly am not a salesperson. Its hard for me to even "romance" the food to the servers when Im trying to explain it to them.

Last-borns can be cocky, however, and they don’t worry about the after-effects of their actions or decisions. While they’re uncomplicated and affectionate, they can also be rebellious, temperamental, spoiled, and impatient.

Ok, Im definatly cocky at times, but I do think of the after effects, and such. I am a VERY complicated man, just ask me a question, and get 15 answers that go to that question, but make you think about it for a while. Im not spoiled, wasnt very rebellious, or impatient.

Negatives: Last-borns tend to get bored quickly. They have a strong fear of rejection and a short attention span. When the fun stops, they've had enough and want to check out. To some extent they're self-centred. They may harbour unrealistic expectations of finding a relationship that is always fun - and of course, such relationships simply do not last.

Its not a strong fear of rejection, but its there, in the background. Definatly do have a short attention span. Sometimes self-centred, especially when dealing with whiny little brats(or 17 year olds who dont stop complaining about doing their job). Sorta do have the expectations for a non-stop fun relationship...but need a social life to find one first.

I'm an only child as well. I think in my case, most of these are actually pretty accurate.

Positives: Only-borns are the mega-movers of the world. They are task-orientated; tend to be extremely well organised, highly conscientious and dependable. They are keen on facts, ideas and details and feel extremely comfortable with responsibility.

Negatives: The negative characteristics of only-borns can be tough to handle. They are often unforgiving, very demanding, hate to admit they're wrong and usually don't accept criticism well. To others, they seem very sensitive and indeed, their feelings are easily hurt.

I agree with most of this, although only about the first half of the negative section. I definitely can be "unforgiving and very demanding" at times, but being very sensitive and having my feelings easily hurt is way off. I've had plenty of people tell me that I come across as having no emotions before actually. Looking back, though, I was a lot more sensitive as a child, so perhaps there is something to it.

The first-borns often are high achievers and are very conscientious, reliable, and loyal. They’re also scholarly (not all the time, though) and feel better being in control of a situation (I know I do).

Why? The parents. It’s the first baby and while there’s a lot of excitement and anticipation on the parents’ part, there’s also a lot of pressure and demand from them to be the best.

This can result in two basic types: compliant and wanting to please, or strong-willed and aggressive. (It’s possible to have traits of both.)

First-borns often have to grow up fast and become “little adults” before they’re ready.

If the first is a female, she may be another “mother” to her siblings. If there’s a youngest brother, he may be “mothered” by sister—even through adulthood! With the oldest brother, however, it’s mutual respect and a friendly rivalry.

A special note: “Only” children tend to have first-born characteristics, only more intensified.

This one is fairly accurate for me, too, except I don't really think my parents had much to do with my having any of these traits.
I obviously don't have siblings since I'm an only child, but I can't exactly picture myself being "motherly" to them if I did, though. xD

I'm the oldest of three (by three and seven years). I don't think it really made an affect on me, because it should've made me more patient, I'd think.

I'm the youngest. I have two older brothers.
But if you want to get really technical, I'm an only child between my mom and my dad. xP
Both my brothers and I each have a different dad. But I grew up around my two other brothers most of the time.

I don't think it affects my personality. We've never really been a very close family.
I do think it affected the way I was treated being the baby girl, though. Especially with some of my mom's boyfriends.

A lot of what the second site says about me is completely inaccurate. I'm not really a people person, at all. I'd make a HORRIBLE sales person. But I do have high ups and really down lows, that much is true. And I am most definitely absentminded.

With the first link I fit more of the negatives than the positives. I'm really not a cheerful person, at all. And it's really hard for me to make friends.

But again, maybe it has to do with the fact that each of my brothers and I have a different dad.

Middle-child, I'm lustful for love and companionship, yet tough. Lustful because I never met my half-sister until a year ago. I only heard about her. So I lust after things easily, and I'm tough since my little brother can be annoying as hell. That's about it that I can think, I'm sure it's influenced me a lot though.

That second site is filled with crap, in my opinion.