Voice 1
Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Rena Dam.
Voice 2
And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting. It is easier for people to understand, no matter where in the world they live.
Voice 1
Imagine a family with three children. Maria is the oldest, David is the second child and Tom is the youngest. One day, their father told them some bad news – he lost his job. Maria was worried. She told her father that she would work to make money for the family. David put his arms around his father and told him that everything would be fine. Tom was sad – his father had promised him new shoes for football. How would he get them now?
Voice 2
Why did Maria, David and Tom all react differently to their father’s news? Why are children from the same family often so different from one another? Dr. Alfred Adler had a theory about this. He worked as a doctor in Austria one hundred years ago. He was very interested in the qualities of a person’s character or personality. Dr. Adler thought that the order that children were born into their families affected their personalities. Today’s Spotlight is on Adler’s birth order theory.
Voice 1
There are four possible birth order positions within a family. A child may be the oldest, the youngest or the middle child. Other families have only one child with no brothers or sisters. Birth order theory says that our birth order influences what kind of person we each become.
Voice 2
Frank Sulloway is a writer and family expert at the University of Calfornia, Berkeley. He believes that birth order affects personality and behavior. He talked to TIME magazine about it. He said that people develop this way for reasons of survival. If a family has more than one child, the children must compete for the parents’ time and resources – resources like food. Frank Sulloway says that people may not recognize that they are working for survival. But it is part of our natural desires. Sulloway says:
Voice 3
“Siblings are much smarter than scientists. They are always trying to define their place in the family. They try to get the most resources out of their parents.”
Voice 1
Children in each birth position have a different way to gain an advantage in the family. Here are some of the main characters of personality by birth order:
Voice 2
The first born or oldest child often gets more time with her parents. Think about our story from the beginning of this program. When Maria was born, she had no other siblings to compete for food or time. A first born child, like Maria, often wants to please her parents. She often takes control and responsibility in social situations. She may try to be perfect and do everything correctly. Jeffrey Kluger is a writer. He wrote a book about brothers and sisters. He described the character of an oldest child to the news station NPR:
Voice 4
“It is often true that oldest children will be the most successful. They will be the ones who earn the most. They will be the ones who are most loyal to the family, most driven to achieve in traditional ways. They will also be the tallest, even if it is only by a few centimeters. They often have higher tested intelligence than the second-born.”
Voice 1
The last born or youngest child, like Tom, is used to other people providing for him. He may be more concerned about himself than about other people. But Tom is also very friendly. He likes to make other people laugh with jokes and funny behavior. As the youngest, this is often the best way for him to get other people to notice him.
Voice 2
David is an example of a middle child. He can sometimes feel left out. He does not get the advantages of being the oldest or the youngest. The middle child often develops skills in the arts, such as music or painting. Some middle children become competitive and even rebel against their parents. But many of them, like David, make peace in the family. As a middle child David has learned to work well with other people.
Voice 1
The last birth order position is the only child. With no brothers or sisters she often gets whatever she wants! She does not have any competition for her parents’ time or resources. The only child often uses language very well because she spends so much time with adults. She can also feel a lot of pressure as the only child. This can make her competitive and hard-working.
Voice 2
Do these personalities fit you and your family? Some people find that birth order theory describes them very well. Other people say the theory cannot be tested and does not work. There are many other variables or different situations that may change the effects of birth order on personality.
Voice 1
These variables include the sex and age of each child and the number of brothers and sisters. Culture and education also make a difference. So does the amount of money that the family has. The experiences of the family can also change how birth order affects personality. For example, some children are adopted, not born into, their family. Families also change as a result of sickness, death or divorce of the parents.
Voice 2
Some children may also need different treatment because of disabilities or medical needs – and this can affect the other children in the family. Dianna Anderson, a producer for Spotlight, gives an example. She has two older brothers, and one is disabled. Dianna says,
Voice 5
“Birth order is very different in my family. Because my oldest brother is disabled, my middle brother is much more like a first child. I am in between a middle child and a youngest child. My middle brother is very smart and is very serious about his work. I work very hard too but I also love to make people laugh. Having a disabled first child changed how our parents treated the rest of their children.”
Voice 1
There are many different variables that influence people’s personalities and actions. Birth order is just one interesting theory. And, as Frank Sullaway told ABC news:
Voice 3
“Humans are complex. You can find things that are more important than birth order. But that does not mean that birth order is not something we can learn from.”
Voice 2
Has birth order affected your personality? We want to hear your family stories! Leave your comments on the script page for this program.
Voice 1
The writer and producer of this program was Rena Dam. The voices you heard were from the United States. All quotes were adapted for this program and voiced by Spotlight. You can listen to this program again, and read it, on the internet at www.radioenglish.net. This program is called, ‘Birth Order Theory’.
Voice 2
You can also find us on Facebook – just search for spotlightradio. We hope you can join us again for the next Spotlight program. Goodbye.
Question:
Do you have brothers or sisters? Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? Do you think this affects how you act? Write your answer in the comments below.
Yes, I have three brothers and five sisters.
I’m a youngest child.
Yes, I think it
I have 3 brothers,and 2 sisters.Iam the youngst one,but I think the order not affect on my personality
yes, I have one brother and two sisters. I am the oldest child. yes, sometimes this affects my act.
Well, I have two brothers and I am the youngest, think that affected my personality some time with bad as I was young, they didn’t take me to a custom ceremony and I don’t have commitment with some social activities ..etc , but when I grew up I fixed that with time!
Well, we are two siblings in the house, me and my older sister. I agree that my sister is more smarter than me and more competitive than me, and i also agree that as the youngest brother i try to take the attention by making jokes and try to make others lough to notice me. But the theory about hight in my case is wrong ivm taller than her in 18 centimeters.
yes i think that affected my personality . I have two sister and three brother so i am the oldest sister in my family . I often must take all responsibility in the home
I’m the youngest child and yea I love to make people laugh it’s my skill
Yes, I have two brothers and one sister.
I’m a middle child.
Yes, I think this affects my act.
Yeah, iam the middle child
Yeah its affect on my character and way of thinking ,cause I take mor experince from my oldest sister
– yes , I have 10 siblings and I’m the youngest child in addition to ,that I have one from my siblings is disabled .
– yes , of course that’s effect on my character , I love laugh and kidding and the same time I have a serious personality , hard work and high responsibility about my mother and sister .
Yes, I have 6 sisters and there brother’s, I thing it’s not fit us exactly, I don’t know may it effect in something may not.
I have 3 brothers and 4 sisters. I am the youngest child. The firstborn is my oldest brother, but he got married soon and left my house. The secondborn is my oldest sister is the person who takes care of the family and replay his role.
I think the birth order theory affects me a little bit.
how about the twin in the family?can you describe character of them?
we are 5 sisters and 5 brothers, I am the youngest child but I act like oldest one 🙂
Yes l have 4 sisters and 3 brothers ,my order in my family before the youngest brother . My order birth doesn’t affect on my personality
My parents have three children. i’m the oldest, my sister is the middle child and my brother is the youngest. My three siblings are completely different in personality and thinking. i work hard to earn money and spend a lot of time taking care of my family, but my two youngers are not. My younger sister likes to participate in artistic activities such as: singing or dancing, etc. And my younger brother likes to participate in social activities like: volunteering, green summer, and his school’s clubs, etc. Even so, we are always loving each other and always standing by each other when my family has any problems
Yes, I have one brother and one sister. I´m the last born. I thing the youngest child, like me, have more opportunities to don´t make mistakes because I can see how grow my siblings and learn of them.
Actually, I have five siblings, I am a middle child and I have three brothers and two sisters, I don’t agree with this theory I think it doesn’t affect much, because anybody can control his act it is not important you are the oldest or the youngest if you want to do something you will do it anybody can be smart isn’t about being the oldest or the youngest
Birth order personality is different in my family, I have more siblings from other mothers and we live in a difficult situation that made us realize at a young age that we had to take responsibility for ourselves and make our world without much support from our parents or siblings. So we are ahead of the older minds
sure
i have 8 sisters and 4 brother’s
my order is elaven, i think i’m from the youngest
I don’t think this theory is suitable for large families . so i can’t answer if it act or not
yes i’ve 3 brothers
oldest child
i thing i sould to find a job
I have two siblings: a brother and a sister. Of course, I am the youngest child, and I believe that birth order is a really interesting theory that applies to me in particular. When I was a child, I was known as a person who was both interesting and humorous. However, now that my brother has a family of his own, I am left alone and have taken on the role of the eldest child.
My family consists of four people. My parents, younger brother and me. My parents are extremely fond of us and do not subscribe to male chauvinism. They are constantly concerned with what is best for me and him. Because I am the oldest sister, my father used to tell me that I should model good behavior in order to prevent such vices from being transmitted to my brother’s mind. I believe that this is the only thing that has an impact on my actions. I need to pause and consider my options before taking any action. The most essential quality is that he is filial to his parents and courteous to everyone. But I’m not going to be bothered by it. I believe that is the proper thing to do, and my younger brother is a well-behaved young man.
In my family, there are two generals. This is my parents and my siblings. There are 4 peoples in my family. I have a young brother. He is 17 years old and he studies at high school. And i am an oldest child. I feel very happy when i have a young brother because I have chance be an older sister. When i was young i always wish I have a sister or brother. But this is not occur. When I am an older sister I must share somethings better for young brother. I will guide his homework or the way to do something housework. Besides, i always have do good my role in order to my brother follow me. Although I remember that when we was young. Sometimes we also spend each other’s good. Since the far old of us is not too much.
I love Spotlight. Com
I have 2 brothers and 3 sisters, I am a youngest child. I think this theory is true for my family. Thank you very much!
Yes I have five brother’s just, me youngest , I think my birth order affects on my personality , I wish always have a sister
Yes, I have four brothers and only one sister.
I’am youngest.
I think the order affect in my personality.
My sister is ten years older than me. She was very intrested in my teaching. And she was wished see me as a doctor one day. Today I fulfilled her dream and my dream and became a dentist. And I want to continue my learning career more and more, I want to study master.
we are small family i have 2 brother and i’m the yungest girl my older brother who takes care of family he worked in gavermen company , my middle brother is very stubborn he worked in the police Office finally i graduate from business admnestration
1- Yes i have 6 brother and 4 sister
2- I middle Chiild in your family
3- yes. Because social and family theories support these theories
Yes I have 11 brothers and seven sisters, But I think this theory doesn’t work. Even it doesn’t work for us I think I agree with one thing, and that is we all thing differently.
I’m the biggest child ,and I can say that there are some features but it still boring and to be the biggest one :/
Yes I have two brothers and sister.
I’m middle child.
Just a little because I have problems with my brothers and my sister.
Yes, I am oldest child in my family and I have two brothers two sisters.
I think that’s theory affects in my act.
Do you have brothers or sisters? Nope
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I’m a only child
Do you think this affects how you act? Yes, because that make me independent
yes, I have 3 brothers, I am the older sister and it affects my way of acting
Do you have brothers or sisters?
If I have
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child, or the only child?
I am the youngest daughter
Do you think this affects the way you act?
No, I am not really attached to my sister, therefore, I do not have behaviors equal to hers
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, I have a sister.
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I am the oldest, because I only have one sister and she is the youngest. Do you think this affects how you act? no, it definitely depends on the parents, my dad and mom are very attached to us, they are equitable and I think that is what helps us not to affect whether I am the youngest or the oldest
Do you have brothers or sisters? yes, a brother
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? youngest child Do you think this affects how you act? No
Do you have brothers or sisters?
if I have
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
I am the middle child
Do you think this affects how you act?
no, everyone has their way of being and everyone makes their own decisions
• Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have two brothers.
• Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
I am a middle child.
• Do you think this affects how you act?
Yes, completely. I think that birth order theory fits perfectly with my family.
Do you have brothers or sisters? I have sister
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? The youngest daughter
Do you think this affects how you act? No, it doesn’t affect me at all
Do you have brothers or sisters?
I have a younger brother
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child or the only child?
I am the oldest
Do you think this affects the way you act?
I think it gives you more authority over him. It affects the way I act when I try to command or give an example of something.
Do you have brothers or sisters? yes, i have two sisters and a brother
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? Do you think this affects how you act? I am the oldest, I consider that it does not affect my way of acting, since that depends on each one of us.
Yes, I have 3 sisters.
I’m the middle child.
Sometimes I copy my sister’s habit’s.
Yes, I have 3 sisters.
I’m the middle child.
Sometimes I copy my sister’s habit’s.
¿Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, I have a sister and a brother.
¿Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? I am the middle child.
¿Do you think this affects how you act? Yes, sometimes because i have problems with my brother and my sister.
Do you have brothers or sisters? I only have brothers
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I am the second child of 4
Do you think this affects how you act? Probably yes, I want to be a good example for my younger borthers, even if they don’t see it
Do you have brothers or sisters? yes brothers, Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I am the middle child, Do you think this affects how you act? not at all
Yes, I have 2 sisters and brother. My brother and me are middle child. Yes this affects me because are they have a different personalities and Influence me.
Yes, I have 2 sisters and brother. My brother and me are middle child. Yes this affects me because are they have a different personalities and Influence me.
Do you have brothers or sisters? I have sisters
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? i´m the oldest
Do you think this affects how you act? In some cases
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? I am the middle child
Do you think this affects how you act? No, I think that being the middle child doesn’t affect how I act.
I have a brother and a sister, I am the youngest of the three, my behavior is totally different from my older siblings, I consider that I grew up learning what attitudes to avoid so as not to be punished.
Do you have brothers or sisters?
If I have 3 siblings, 1 sister and 1 brother, and 1 half sister.
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child?
I am the older brother.
Do you think this affects how you act?
It does not influence my way of acting so much, only that I have to be a good example for them and it is somewhat complicated to take on that responsibility, but my way of acting is sometimes very strict.
Do you have brothers or sisters? 2 brothers
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? i´m the middle childs
Do you think this affects how you act? i don´t think so
Yes, I have two sisters
I’m the middle child
I don’t think this affects how I act
Si tengo un hermano y una hermana soy la hija mayor pienso que si puede llegar a afectar mi personalidad por el echo de que soy la mayor me toca más responsabilidad de cuidar a mis hermanos y eso me hace más madura
If I have a brother and a sister, I am the eldest daughter. I think that it affects my way of acting because I am the eldest daughter and that makes me have to be a more responsible and mature person since I am an example for my siblings to follow.
Yes, I have two sisters.
I’m the middle child.
I don’t think this affects how I act.
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, I have a sister.
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? I’m the oldest child.
Do you think this affects how you act? Yes, because we complement each other
Yeah, iam the middle child
Yeah its affect on my character and way of thinking ,cause I take mor experince from my oldest sister
-Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have a sister and a brother.
-Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child or the only child?
The eldest daughter.
-Do you think this affects the way you act?
I think it doesn’t affect me.
Do you have brothers or sisters?Yes a brother
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? Youngest child
Do you think this affects how you act? Yes, and so much
Yes i have one brother and one sister, i am middle child. I don’t think it affects me, I’m very independent
Yes, I have 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
im the youngest child
i dont think have a lots of siblings affects how you act
-Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have a sister and a brother.
-Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
The oldest child.
-Do you think this affects how you act?
No, I get on well with them and I haven’t had a conflict about it.
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have 3 brothers.
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child?
I am the middle child.
Do you think this affects how you act?
No, because everyone has their own personality.
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have 2 brothers.
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child, or the only child?
I am the oldest son.
Do you think this affects the way you act?
Yes, sometimes for being the example
1.- Yes, I do have siblings, an I’m the oldest child
2.- I think doesn’t change much how i act
I have 1 brother
im the youngest child
I don’t think this activity
affect me
Do you have brothers or sisters?
a sister
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child, or the only child?
I am the eldest son
Do you think this affects the way you act?
yes, you have to take care of your little sister
Do you have brothers or sisters? i have 2 sisters
Are you an oldest child, yougest child, middle child, or only child? im the oldest
Do you think this affects how you act? yes, I was raised differently
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, brothers
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
I am the middle child.
Do you think this affects how you act?
Yes, because as I lived with only brothers my way of acting is a little rougher than delicate for a woman.
Yes i’m very well at reading faces. My face always communicate a sadness, because i´m sad every time
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes I have two sisters.
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? Do you think this affects how you act?
I am the oldest child and of course I think the born order affects how we act in different ways as the spotlight episode said. For example as the oldest child I use to be perfectionist and try to spend more time with my family, some behaviors who the episode described it in reference to the oldest child.
Do you have brothers or sisters? yes a sister and a brother, are you the oldest child, youngest child, middle child or only child? I am the youngest son, do you think this affects the way you act? Yes, because they always want to send me to do things for myself because I’m the youngest
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I’m a oldest child
Do you think this affects how you act? NO
I have two older brothers. I am the youngest. I think it doesn’t affect my personality.
Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have a sister and a brother.
-Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
The oldest child.
-Do you think this affects how you act?
No, I get on well with them and I haven’t had a conflict about it.
-Do you have brothers or sisters?
Yes, I have a sister and a brother.
-Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child?
The oldest child.
-Do you think this affects how you act?
No, I get on well with them and I haven’t had a conflict about it.
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes, I have a sister
Are you an oldest child, youngest child, middle child, or only child? I am an oldest child
Do you think this affects how you act? Yes, since I feel very responsible for setting a good example
Do you have brothers or sisters? Yes
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child, or the only child? the youngest son
Do you think this affects the way you act? Not at all
1.yes, i have
2.Im the middle child
3.yes because it changes the way they treat you when you are an only child or have siblings
Do you have brothers or sisters? if I have two siblings
Are you the oldest child, the youngest child, the middle child or the only child? Do you think this affects the way you act? I am the oldest does not affect
Do you have brother or sisters? Yes i have a brother and a sister
Are you an oldest child? Im the oldest
Do you think this affects how you act? Not at all, i think it depends on the situation
we are a big family an i am middle child in our family… and yes somtime i feel left out like that theory says , i have some responsibilitiy to my family too and i thought why have feel in this way
Yes, I have two younger brothers – I’m the eldest. Birth order theory is quite right for us. As an eldest one, the more I get older the more responsible for my family.
Yes i have three brother
I’m amiddle child.
Yes i think that.
We are six siblings, 3 sons and 3 daughter. I am the middleborn but the oldest daughter. As i am the first daughter for my family, it feels like i have tobe always right and sucessful. I take the responsiblity of my family even when there are 2 siblings older than me. In addition to that, i am trying to make my family live in peace and quite.
I’m the oldest one, I think this theory can’t be true. It’s a gust theory
Yes I think ,I am second child but I found the qualities of responsibility and seriousness in me .
Yes, i have two brothers and two sisters
I’m middle child
Yeah, by surely this affects about my act for example i always feeling left out in my family so i always trying be better
I have two brothers and I am the oldest and I think the birth order theory described me well as oldest.
The podcast was amazing.
i think the birth order didn’t effect me , our familiy contains more than 7 ,and i am the second and the serious person
Yes,i have 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
I’m the middle child in my family and my sister is oldest so she takes control and responsibilities in the social and economical situations because she is spending a lot of time with our parents. She also standing up with my parents and offers huge help.
I think this theory of order birth is fit me as well and working very well otherwise it’s good and connected phase , also it described as well what I looked for.
i am only child. And my opinion, some of thinks about “birth order theory” can be a true. As for me i found myself is selfish, bossy. i like to workhard and always do everythings for my own succses
No.
I am an only child.
Yes.
Yes, I have 5 brothers and 1 sister.
I’m the youngest child,
In my opinion its affects in my act.
Yes, i have four brothers and tow sisters
I’m a middle child.
Acually this theory does not effect me.
Yes, I have three sisters and three brothers, I am middle child, yes, sometimes affect
Yeah im the older children in my familly and ihave 2 brothers and 1 sisters , im the oldest born