It may not surprise many firstborn children to hear the theory that their younger siblings are more prone to ending up on the wrong side of the law. In fact, there is a growing body of evidence that supports this idea.
A study conducted earlier this year, which followed thousands of sets of brothers in Denmark and Florida—two regions with vastly different environments and cultures—has concluded that second-born children are more likely to test authority than their older siblings. The study found that second-borns tend to rebel more and often encounter trouble with authorities.
Consistently, the study revealed that second-born boys were 20 per cent to 40 per cent more likely to face disciplinary actions in school and have adverse interactions with the criminal justice system compared to first-born boys. This isn’t the first-time research has explored this topic; remarkably, each published study has reached a similar conclusion.
Psychologists have long been interested in how birth order affects personality and behavior. Several books, including Frank Sulloway’s “Born to Rebel,” first published in the 1960s, delve into this subject. One of Sulloway’s significant findings was that oldest children typically identify with their parents and authority figures, supporting the status quo, while their younger siblings are more likely to rebel against it.
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More recently, the parenting book “Why First Borns Want to Rule the World and Last Borns Want to Change It” has drawn similar conclusions about the influence of birth order on our lives.
The findings become even more intriguing when considering households with more than two siblings. Studies suggest that middle children are about 33% more likely to exhibit delinquent behaviors than first-borns, while last-born children are roughly 20% more likely to exhibit these behaviors than their oldest siblings.
But why does birth order have such an impact? In the recent study conducted in Denmark and Florida, the authors posited that second-born children often do not receive the same level of one-on-one attention and nurturing from their parents as their older siblings did. As a result, they may act out to gain attention. This pattern can become ingrained, affecting their behavior in school and beyond.
The research also indicated that parents tend to take more time off work for their first child compared to their second. This dynamic means that second-borns are not only vying for attention from their older sibling but also competing with their parents’ careers and other responsibilities.
Furthermore, the study found that second-borns may develop anti-social behavior by looking up to their older siblings as role models, while first-borns tend to look to their parents for guidance. The oldest child typically spends more developmental time around adults, leading to more socially acceptable behavior. In contrast, a second-born may have a toddler or school-aged sibling as a role model—someone who is inherently less mature, more impulsive, and possibly even egotistical.
Academic performance
Academic ability is another important factor. Previous research has shown that, because of the focused time and input from parents, first-born children generally achieve better grades than their younger siblings.
It’s clear that parental involvement plays a critical role in the development of children and how they conduct themselves as adults in society.
A particular study that examined factors influencing juvenile crime rates identified three main influences in children’s lives, especially as they enter adolescence and young adulthood: peers, parents and family, and community.
The Role of Parents
Among these, parenting and familial support have the strongest influence. Children with low levels of parental involvement are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior, reinforcing what we know about the risks faced by children who grow up in unstable or un nurturing environments.
In conclusion, it is evident that parental involvement is essential in instilling life skills and social norms in children. We must continue to teach our young people positive life skills and foster a strong desire to contribute productively to society rather than to act outside it.
By Joseph Mambili
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