Does birth order really affect relationships?

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I recently read a fascinating article (see Does birth order make or break a relationship?).  It discussed how birth order, or a person’s place within the family, can have a definite impact on a romantic relationship.
 

The article states that there has been research on this subject since the 1920’s and the research has been very consistent with the same findings.  A person’s birth order: Eldest, middle, youngest, and even an only child, has at least some bearing on personality.  In general, eldest children tend to be very driven, more responsible, and attention seekers.  Middle-born children are usually more laid-back but can have difficulty making decisions and the youngest child while outgoing, according to the article, tend to be more dependent.

Only children are mentioned as more self-confident but a negative trait may be perfectionism.  These characteristics may create some hazards within a relationship that require specific awareness and attention.  The article further suggests that certain birth orders are very compatible based on the fact that they are opposite in nature.  In fact, I am the eldest and I married a man who is the youngest in his family.  I can absolutely see that we exhibit some most of the qualities described. However, because we are opposites, it just works.

I found this to be quite an interesting article.  Let me know if you think birth order is a factor in relationships.

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