Fascinating Birth Order Experiment

I want to share with you one of my most pleasant and enjoyable memories. When I was in my master's program to be a counselor, one of my counseling professor's decided to have a little fun with the class, while teaching us some important information about birth order. We'll call my professor Dr.V. Here's the experiment she did involving the whole class in the personality traits related to birth order. Please note, this isn't a personal opinion, I am just conveying the outcome of the experiment. However, I do have to admit over the many years I have been alive I find birth order traits to be valid in general, at least with the individuals I have met. So, lets' see how Dr. V had her fun!

She told the class she wanted the class to split up into three groups, those who were first born, middle children and youngest child in their families. She then gave all the groups the same task. She asked each group to come up with some ideas related to a specific task. We were all working on the same task. She then let us do our thing. Meanwhile she was observing us the whole time. I swear she was like a cat waiting for a mouse. Well, as the tasks were going on this was what was observed by not only her, but by those of us that were smart enough to pay attention.

The first borns spent most of their time, not on the task at hand, but who was going to lead, and be in control. It was a power struggle that would impress the United Nations. They didn't get too much accomplished by the end of the time limit, other than prove that being the one with the power was more important than the task itself.

The middle children, were the funniest to watch. They weren't use to leading, only following. Unfortunately, because they were all middle children, there were no leaders. It was like watching the Three Stooges running into each other, and going nowhere. They too, did not get much accomplished, because no one could make up their mind what to do.

The babies, had the most fun and fully accomplished the task. Most babies of the family tend to be independent thinkers, and the ones that like to have the most fun. They were coming up with ideas at a fast pace while laughing and joking the whole time. I remember looking over at Dr. V during the experiment, and seeing her laughing. I looked at her as to say, What? She then stated while laughing, she just knew the babies would have the most fun in accomplishing the task

The funny part is, mostly everyone was not surprised having known the members of the class for awhile, which groups the class members were in. It was quite fascinating. There really was no surprises about their birth order. Their personalities seem to fit perfectly with the groups they were in.

So, Dr. V made her point, that birth order can have some validity when it comes to personality traits. She certainly made it a lot of fun, especially for the babies, and taught us some important information that was certainly a lot more interesting with the experiment than a five hour lecture!

*Okay, you're probably dying to know which group I was in. Should I let you guess? Nah, if you're a regular reader of my articles, and have noticed that I tend to throw in a little humor in just about everyone I write, you can't help but know I'm one of the babies!