Sibling Position in the Family and Personality of Offspring

Abstract

The relationship between sibling position and personality of the child is still a matter of some controversy. In an empiric study, the authors collected standard personality data on 1,560 white middleand upper-class college students. The students were categorized into both a four-fold scheme of oldest, intermediate, youngest and only child by sex; and a 16-position system representing a slight modification of that of Sletto, Toman, and others. The data did not reveal a positive association between ordinal position and personality characteristics as measured by the Gough Inventory. More refined research is called for.