Alfred Adler Birth Order Theory

Glenda Tezeno

Psychology 4310 Theories of Personality

Nadia Hasan-- Summer, 2010

 Abstract

This paper will explore Alfred Adler theory on birth order. Adler stressed that the order

of birth was an important determiner of personality. It will explain give you a quick look

at the four “typical” birth order positions. I like the fact that Adler incorporates a

perspective on birth order because it’s interesting to see where you fit into his theory and

whether you see yourself that way. This paper will introduce you to Alfred Adler through

his family constellation, birth order theory by explaining the categories of birth order

personalities and how it was assessed.

 Introduction

You might not know anything about Alfred Adler’s theory on birth order but you

know something about birth order. We all know, for example, about the problems faced

by middle children, and how the baby of any family always gets what they want. Birth

order is a way to increase our knowledge friends, family members and co-workers.

Alfred Adler believes your position in your family can have a significance effect on

personality traits. Alder offer no formula to understanding our friends and family.

However, his birth order theory may suggest evidence about why people tend to be the

way they are. Through your birth order in the family you acquire your distinctive style,

your way thinking and emotional reaction. Your birth order helps determine your

expectations, your plan of action for dealing with people and your weaknesses. This

paper will explore Alfred Adler’s history and birth order theory.

Biography

Alfred Adler was born in the suburbs of Vienna on February 7, 1870, the third child,

second son, of a Jewish grain merchant and his wife. As a child, Alfred developed

rickets, which kept him from walking until he was four years old (Bottome 1957). At

five, he nearly died of pneumonia. It was at this age that he decided to be a physician. His

mother was a Hungarian and his father who was born in the Burgenland was also

Hungarian (Bottome 1957). The whole Adler family was exceptionally musical; one of

Adler’s brothers played and taught the violin; his sister Hermine was an excellent pianist

and Adler himself had so beautiful a tenor voice that he was constantly urged in his youth

to give up science for an operatic career. Alder’s immediately family consisted of four

brothers (including him and two sisters. His elder brother was the only one with whom he
didn’t get along well and he never took part in any of his sibling’s games. Alder married

Raissa Timofeyewna Epstein 1897 and eventually had four children, two of whom

became psychiatrists (Bottome 1957). Adler reported that his mother was good-humored,

truthful, kind, and totally devoted to the children. However, "when my younger brother

was born she transferred her attention to him, and I felt dethroned, and turned to my

father, whose favorite I was” (Schultz & Schultz, 2009).

Education and Work History

Alfred struggled in school. He was clumsy, homely, and got poor grades. He

flunked mathematics in secondary school and had to repeat it. Adler heard his teacher

advised his father to take him out of school and apprentice him to a shoemaker (Schultz

& Schultz, 2009). Instead, his father encouraged him to remain at school and redouble his

efforts. Young Alfred fought against his setback by studying his math industriously

(Bottome 1957). He attended classical secondary school and received a degree from the

University of Vienna Medical School in 1895(Bottome 1957).

Alfred Adler started his career as an opthamologist, but changed to general

practice (Bottome 1957). He then turned to psychiatry, and during World War I, served

as a physician in the Austrian Army (Bottome 1957).After the war, he was involved in

different projects, including working at a clinic that was attached to state schools and the

training of teachers. In 1926, he accepted a position at the Long Island College of

Medicine (Bottome 1957).

Theory of Personality- Birth Order

One of Adler’s most enduring contributions is the idea that order of birth is a major social

influence in childhood, one from which we create our style of life. Being older or

younger than one’s siblings and being exposed to differing parental attitudes create

different childhood conditions that help determine personality. Adler was one of the first

to recognize that children's positions in the family constellation of siblings could affect

their development in critical ways (Adler 1956). Being a significant member of the

family is important and children may become discouraged if they think they have a

disadvantageous position. He wrote about four situations: the first-born child, the second-

born child, the youngest child and the only child. First–borns are oriented toward the pas,

pessimistic about the future and concerned with maintaining order and authority. Second-

borns compete with first-borns and are apt to be ambitious. Last-borns, spurred by the

need to surpass older siblings, may become high achievers. Only children may mature

early but are apt to face a shock in school when they are no longer the center of attention

(Schultz & Schultz, 2009). Adler believed birth order and siblings had major influences

on personality, so he incorporates his family in his studies. As discussed in his biography,

Alder was pampered by his mother until age 2 when another baby arrive and he was no

longer pampered by this mother but began his father favorite (Schultz & Schultz, 2009).

Research and Assessment

In therapy, Adler almost always asked patients about their family constellation, that is,

their birth order, the gender of their siblings, and the age spread between them. Although

people’s perception of the situation into which they were born is more important than

numerical rank, Adler did form some general hypotheses about birth order (Schultz &
Schultz, 2009). Research has not consistently supported this contention. One study found

that only-borns demonstrated more cooperative behaviors than first-borns or last-borns.

Another study found that only-borns were more self centered and less popular than

children with siblings (Schultz & Schultz, 2009). There are increasing number of

evidence throughout the scientific and psychology community that the order in which you

are born may influence your intelligence, personality, relationships and career choice.

Although much research has been done involving birth order, the research is

inconclusive.

My Reflection

I have one brother who is the middle child and one sister who is the youngest. As the

oldest sibling I am the most independent and the most responsible of the group. I strive

for perfection, and thrive on approval of authority figures, like my mom (before she died)

and my grandmother. My grandmother would brag about me because I did well in school,

I’ve work in a hospital settings since graduation from high school and because I did well

with my life. I believe because I didn’t let the death of my mother change my personality

and who I am. When my brother was born I didn’t feel like he was getting more attention

then me, maybe because we were only a year apart. But my sister was born 13 years later,

so yes she was spoiled. That didn’t affect me because by the time she was born I was a

teenager and helped my parents spoil her. I believe some of Alder’s birth order theory

applied to me personality but I believe it depends on birth order and family environment.

Alfred Adler was definitely right to say that the desire to be unique is the major leading

force for children in the family. So parent would be more democratic and let the children

be successful in different fields so they do not compete.

 Conclusion

Alfred Adler was conveying that each child in any family would want to ensure his

individuality, concerned with his own place, a place that is constructed for him only.

Each child needs to stress that he is different and there is nobody else like him. This is the

main reason why birth order is significant it tells why our personalities are the whey they

are according to what we have to overcome to prove that we are unique. Adler believed

birth order and siblings had major influences on personality. Knowing this will help

adults to avoid a lot of undesirable consequences.

References

Adler, A. Understanding Human Nature. Trans. from the 1927 edition by Colin Brett.
Oxford: Oneworld Publications, 1992b.

Bottome, P. (1957). Alfred Adler "A Portait from Life". New York: The Vanguard Press.

Adler, A. (1956). The Individual Psychology of Alfred Adler. New York: Harper & Row

Schultz, D.P. & Schultz, S.E. (2009). Theories of Personality (9th ed.). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth Cengage Learning.