Birth Order and Intellectual Independence

[Jack Flak]

Originally Posted by AvereX

i am the only childz

As am I, for the record.

[Thursday]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

As am I, for the record.

the two of us together, with legos and $5 between us ?
all hell breaking loose

what else does this imply - the only child thingy ?

[Jennifer]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

If my idea and the resulting contemplation by others results in a greater awareness of the nuances of the human psyche by anyone, I consider my mission accomplished.

Uh... what nuances?

Your idea: The eldest child might be more intellectual independent (because he's the eldest).

Opposing idea: The eldest child reflects the parents values because s/he is expected to champion the family.

At this level of conversation, both sound believable. And both can be supported via anecdote.

Without a more rigorous approach/discussion, we've learned nothing.

[Bella]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

A hypothesis has just occured to me:

First-borns and only children have greater intellectual independence, leading to conviction in judgment and higher skill in such things as debate.

Younger siblings rely heavily on older siblings for judgments, thus, on average, have reduced ability to think on their own.

This is purely concerned with environment, thus if children are raised separately, it doesn't apply.

What say you?

In my family it is my brother, the youngest out of three, who is intellectualy independent. He also has the most eccentric personality. I think this had to do with him being allowed to just be because he was was the only boy.

[Jack Flak]

Originally Posted by AvereX

...what else does this imply - the only child thingy ?

Another hypothesis? So much pressure.

I did note in the OP that higher intellectual independence also applies to only children. I think it's further increased, because we have to "stand on our own ground" even more. Perhaps we also have less of a need to convince others of our position--But this is even more hypothetical than the OP.

(Being an only child leads to many other differences probably best discussed in a more general thread.)

Originally Posted by Bella

In my family it is my brother, the youngest out of three, who is intellectualy independent. He also has the most eccentric personality. I think this had to do with him being allowed to just be because he was was the only boy.

How many years younger is he than the next-oldest sibling? This matters. I would say, completely off the top of my head, that a three to five year difference would have the greatest impact on intellectual independence.

[entropie]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

A hypothesis has just occured to me:

First-borns and only children have greater intellectual independence, leading to conviction in judgment and higher skill in such things as debate.

Younger siblings rely heavily on older siblings for judgments, thus, on average, have reduced ability to think on their own.

This is purely concerned with environment, thus if children are raised separately, it doesn't apply.

What say you?

I have a 15 year old sister and I am 25, so I was pretty much raised as single child. Your relation fits perfectly for my situation and my sister's aswell.

Intresting to see are the combinations, there are in my circle of friends. One friend was raised only child and he has a VERY strong conviction in judgement. While my girlfriend for example was raised as third child and had had, due to being a judgemental character, a very hard time with getting along with her family in the past. Her other character traits are Introversion, what pretty fits into the situation aswell.

Thought about birth order alot myself and I think there can be deep connection to it in relation with MBTI.

What would be really intresting are the mavericks in the theory. I myself was raised by two Introverted Sensors. My childhood was exemplary, I love my parents and I had everything a child needs. But I am pretty much Extrovert and sentences like "Our children are both the same, they always listen more to what their friends say than doing what is right" have grown a custom, within these walls here ..

[Thursday]

i wonder if there is a formula for parents to children
my mom is an ISFP, my father ENTP
i am an INFJ

any ideas ?

[Jack Flak]

Originally Posted by AvereX

...any ideas ?

Types of parents are significant in various ways because we tend to interact with them so much. (But I don't think it affects our type.)

[dorareever]

I'm an only child and very independent intellectually. But then again I've been raised by an ENTP mother an an INTP father. I've always been encouraged to debating ideas, and trying to find my own. Maybe it would have been different with SJ's parents. But then again my SJ's babysitter spent lots of time with me and the only thing she accomplished was giving me clinical depression

[Grayscale]

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

What say you?

I was a middle child and arguably the most independent (oldest son) followed by my older sister. my younger brother is the most family-oriented and similar to my parents out of the kids.