For numerous years research on the ordinal position of children in a family has indicated that certain personality traits can be linked to the oldest, middle and youngest children. However, the first child in a family and only children seem to display the most likeness in their personalities. Despite their similarities, there are still ways for firstborns to differentiate from only children, such as their level of independence. This poses the issue of investigating whether or not only children are less independent than firstborn children. Two studies were conducted to see if being an only child could effect a person's ability when achieving independence from the family system. One study conducted by Barbara Byrd, Arnold P. DeRosa, and Stephen S. Craig indicate that only children are less autonomous than firstborn children. This can be attributed to the "dethronement process" that takes place within the family upon the arrival of the second child (Byrd et al, 2000). Bei!

ng first born is to be the sole recipient of parental attention for at least a year and then having to relinquish that position and compete with a rival who is in greater need o

e different experiences, and it is also true that they end up with different personalities. Children are emotionally attached to their parents (and vice versa), are dependent on them for protection and care, and learn skills within the home that may prove useful outside of it; these facts are not questioned.

Steven Mellor, "How Do Only Children Differ From Other Children?" The Journal of Genetic Psychology, vol. 151, no.2 (June 1990), pp. 221-230. Copyright 1990 by The Helen Dwight Reid Educational Foundation. Reprinted by permission of Heldref Publications, 1319 18th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036-1802. Some notes omitted.

These research studies did not take into account parent-driven effects and different parenting styles. How children are treated by their parents would definitely incur a significant mark on ones individuality and independence. A parent might have a particular reason for favoring or rejecting a particular child. Perhaps one child seems to have a more pleasing personality than the other or seemed to be more physically attractive. Another reason could be that the child's conception was unplanned. An important factor could also be the family status. Determining whether or not the child came from a broken family and the issues of dealing with a stepfamily are very important. Maybe during early childhood the child was sent to a daycare for most of his waking hours and not enough time was spent on him being nurtured correctly. Yet in this day in age, having so many controversies, "correct" would be heresy. It is undoubtedly true that children who grow up in the same home hav!

consisting of only children, 2 children, 3-4 children, and 5 or more children. The instruments used in the study by Byrd et al included the California Psychological Inventory and the Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scales III. However, the instrument of measurement used in Mellor's research was the Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory, which is very different than that of the instruments of measurement of the first study. Different because the EPSI measures participants in stages, whereas the CPI measures just autonomy and detachment and the FACES III measuring only cohesion and adaptability.

f attention. This

Some common words found in the essay are:
EPSI Byrd, Erikson Mellor, III III, Stage Inventory, Stephen Craig, Firstborn Children, Steven Mellor, firstborn children, Psychological Reports, Genetic Psychology, Inventory ESPI, byrd et, byrd et al, et al, children firstborn, children firstborn children, family size, laterborn children, et al 2000, children children, children laterborn, al 2000, study byrd, children laterborn children, study byrd et,
Approximate Word count = 1514
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)