How Does Being the Middle Child Affect You?
Birth order is the order in which a child ranks according to age in a family. Many case studies have been conducted regarding birth order and how it affects family dynamics, personalities, interpersonal relationships, career choices and even intelligence. Being born in the middle often leads to "Middle Child Syndrome," which can comprise both positive and negative traits.
Other People Are Reading
-
Attitude
-
By the time parents have a second or third child, they tend to be more easygoing and less demanding. Being raised by parents who have a more relaxed attitude can lead to the middle child having a more relaxed attitude than their siblings. They tend to go with the flow, read people well, see all sides of a situation and play the role of peacemaker. Because they are more laid back and tend to be followers as opposed to leaders, they may also lack focus and ambition.
Lack of Attention
-
Middle children may struggle to get noticed or be heard within their families. They generally have to work harder for attention because the older child and youngest child will generally get more attention. This may lead to the middle child feeling ignored. They will, in turn, crave attention and likely feel out of place or like they do not belong. This may lead to an identity crisis or lack of confidence. They may also resent and fight with their siblings.
-
Relationships
-
Because middle children are less likely to receive attention at home than their older and younger siblings, they may look outside the family to fill the void. They may place more emphasis on friendships and peer groups than their siblings do. On the contrary, some middle children may react to the lack of attention by retreating and becoming loners. They may spend a lot of time alone and may also have a hard time forming and maintaining outside relationships.
School and Careers
-
Most middle children do not enjoy being in the limelight and are not overachievers. They will usually work only as hard as they need to, whether in school or work. They do not work well under pressure and have a hard time staying on task. They can be extremely artistic and creative. Possible career choices for a middle child would be writing, journalism or any position in which they can express themselves creatively. A middle child would likely enjoy a job that allows them to work flexible hours and not have to do the same tasks day after day.
-
References
- Photo Credit Comstock Images/Comstock/Getty Images
