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Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Created: 05/27/15

Replies: 11

Posted May. 27, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
davinamw

Join Date: 10/15/10

Posts: 3442

Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Each of the four siblings – Adele, Helen, Peter and Bonnie – have very distinct personalities. Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has on the similarities or differences?


Posted May. 31, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
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bestmartin

Join Date: 02/20/13

Posts: 103

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

I think there's no straight answer. Some siblings are alike and others very different. I think there is a general bond which links siblings even if it's more ingrained rather than felt. I have two siblings. One is my soul sister. We share everything and always have. Our lives and choices are very different yet we are very alike in our hearts. My other sister (a middle child!) is very difficult and angry. I have chosen recently to disengage. I do think there is some stereotyped truth to birth order.


Posted May. 31, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
reene

Join Date: 02/18/15

Posts: 497

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Siblings are very different personalities. Unfortunately parents and teachers expect them to be alike. My sister and I were thirteen months apart in age and everyone expected us to be like twins--yet our personalities were very different. This caused many rifts between us and others because as you are growing up you do try to live up to expectations of others. We could never please everyone.


Posted Jun. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
janeh

Join Date: 06/15/11

Posts: 222

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

I have four siblings and all of us are very strong individual personalities. My daughter has two girls at this point and they are exact opposites. The best parents are the ones who realize early on they are raising a new individual, not an extension of themselves. They learn at an early age to celebrate the accomplishments of each child and not constantly compare them against their own background or against their older siblings. Each life is precious and should be celebrated as such.


Posted Jun. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
reene

Join Date: 02/18/15

Posts: 497

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

janeh said it beautifully


Posted Jun. 01, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
deeh

Join Date: 03/03/12

Posts: 239

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

I am an only child and always wanted siblings. I have three children, a son and two daughters, who frequently expressed a desire to be an only child. They are very different from each other. The only predictable behavior is that they stand together if someone speaks ill against their sibling(s).


Posted Jun. 04, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lynnw

Join Date: 09/01/11

Posts: 166

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Every family is different. I am the youngest of 3 and I had 3 children. You would be hard pressed to find 6 more different people in every way. One similar trait in all of us is that we will defend each other no matter what.


Posted Jun. 07, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
lindaj

Join Date: 03/18/14

Posts: 24

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Since I am an "only," I would have no idea. Many of my friends have siblings, but I'm not around them and their siblings for any amount of time. The only valid comparison I have is my husband and his brother and, not only do they look a lot alike, they do hold the same interests much of the times. But, other times, not so much.
I have three children and they are all completely different.


Posted Jun. 08, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
marganna

Join Date: 10/14/11

Posts: 153

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

So many things effect the siblings - Birth order is a huge influence. I believe in Adlerian models of the "nuclear family" with birth order is the most powerful influence on children. There are traits that go with each position in the family. That being said, then what's happening in the life of the family has a powerful influence. Siblings can be alike or totally different. There is a thread that runs through the family that connects them all. Circumstances also influence this.
My only sibling was 7 years younger than me so we were basically considered "only child" in Adlerian terms. My father was gainfully employed when I was a child; when my brother was born the folks had purchased "the family farm" & he was working 2 other jobs so he had little time to be with the family. My brother & I did not get along until we were adults then we discovered that common thread & rejoiced in it. He died several years ago & I still feel the loss of that special connection.


Posted Jun. 09, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mariannes

Join Date: 12/17/12

Posts: 206

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

My brother and I are both introverts, as are my three children and one of my brother's two children. My boys are both doctors (both are hospitalists) and my daughter married a doctor. I have to think some traits are generally heritable, but my children are all different in many ways, too.


Posted Jun. 11, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
mal

Join Date: 09/09/13

Posts: 164

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

Siblings come in all different types. I'm sure similarities and differences are shared. I personally share both with my siblings. We are all VERY different in many ways. Birth order might attribute to a few traits, I personally believe it is more individual and personality oriented.


Posted Jun. 21, 2015 Go to Top | Go to bottom | link | alert
kathleenb

Join Date: 09/14/12

Posts: 111

RE: Do you think siblings are generally more similar to each other than different, or the reverse? If you have a sibling, in what ways are you alike and in what ways are you dissimilar? What impact do you think birth order has?

I think every one has there own personality but there are some similarities sometimes. Most people are extroverts so if there is an introvert in the family there might be another which would be out of the normal statistics. With seven children in my family I feel that all seven of us are basically different. There were three alcoholics though two are in recovery and one died at fifty from alcoholism and a chronic pot smoker so I guess you could say we share addiction tendencies. It is possible to have opposite personality types in a family especially a large one. Because I believe that personality is inborn but can also be shaped by your environment. So even though we all had a narcissist mother it affected all of us differently.


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