Are Only Children Les
9/12/00 Are Only Children Less Independent Than Firstborn Children? For numerous years research on the ordinal position of children in a family has indicated that certain personality traits can be linked to the oldest, middle and youngest children. However, the first child in a family and only children seem to display the most likeness in their personalities. Despite their similarities, there are still ways for firstborns to differentiate from only children, such as their level of independence. This poses the issue of investigating whether or not only children are less independent than firstborn children. Two studies were conducted to see if being an only child could effect a person's ability when achieving independence from the family system. One study conducted by Barbara Byrd, Arnold P. DeRosa, and Stephen S. Craig indicate that only children are less autonomous than firstborn children. This can be attributed to the "dethronement process" that takes place within the family upon the arrival of the second child (Byrd et al, 2000). Bei!ng first born is to be the sole recipient of parental attention for at least a year and then having to relinquish that position and compete with a rival who is in greater need o
This instrument consists of 20 items used to measure cohesion and adaptability. Byrd et al, designed a research with college aged students who would be taking these inventories and relating it to their past of when they were younger. ------------------------------------------------------------------------**Bibliography**Barbara Byrd, Arnold P. These studies could be tied in with one another by taking Mellor's study from adolescence of only children and firstborn children being equal, since they are taking the inventory at their adolescent stage and use Byrd et al's study as the change from adolescence to college age. Whereas only children may seem to be more dependent on their parents and parents dependent on their only child. Subjects were first categorized by birth order consisting of only children, firstborn children and laterborn children. A parent might have a particular reason for favoring or rejecting a particular child. The instrument used for measurement was The Erikson Psychosocial Stage Inventory or the ESPI. However, he also looked at family size !consisting of only children, 2 children, 3-4 children, and 5 or more children. By using the FACES III, researchers are able to see how family members perceive their family to be and how they would like it to be (Byrd et al, 2000). One instrument was the California Psychological Inventory or the CPI Independence Scale. In the second study, Mellor focused more on the differences among birth order and family size and how they compared in the specific stages of the EPSI. A second instrument used was The Family Adaptability Cohesion Evaluation Scales III, or FACES III.
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