Who’s Your Perfect Mate Based on Birth Order?
Some experts and psychologists believe that your birth order has a lot to do with finding your perfect mate. My mom talks about this all the time. It’s really fascinating to think about, and honestly, looking at real-life situations, I tend to think these experts are right. So, who is your perfect mate based on birth order?
Your Perfect Mate Based on Birth Order
So, what’s the “Birth Order Theory?” Austrian psychiatrist Alfred Adler proposed the idea in the early 20th century. The Birth Order Theory states that you exhibit certain traits and characteristics based on your birth order. For example, according to Drjen.com, some characteristics include firstborns craving “approval and attention,” since “they often lose the full attention of their parents within the first four years of life.” In turn, middle children tend to be able to adapt, according to Drjen.com, and youngest “have more leeway in life.” With only children, parents might put pressure on the child and “have a high level of academic expectation,” since it’s their only child.
In general, the Birth Order Theory states that “firstborns develop a need for control and responsibility as adults—middle children tend to look for attention and affection—and lastborns have a penchant for rebellion and adventure,” according to PureWow.com. So, the theory states that based on these sibling stereotypes and characteristics, you’re best with either an oldest, middle, youngest or only child.
So, which combinations are the best and most compatible? Karen Stewart, PsyD, a psychologist based in California, tells Women’s Health Magazine that firstborns and lastbornes are the most compatible of all. This is because the firstborn is used to having the role of “caretaker” and “aims to please, and they want someone who they can look after.” She adds that the youngest is “used to being led and coddled.” So, she adds that it’s a familiar dynamic for both of them. She adds that firstborns and only children are also very compatible, because “an only child looks for someone who can take care of them at all times, which is one of the primary personality traits of a stereotypical eldest child.” Also, she adds that only children don’t like conflict, but firstborns do.
As for middleborns, Stewart says they’re very compatible with bornfirsts, because the first born partner can be the leader and support system they wanted as a kid but perhaps didn’t get. As for bad combinations, that same-birth orders are the least compatible of all the combinations. So, an oldest with an oldest, youngest with a youngest, middle with a middle and only child with an only child are supposedly not compatible. This is all very interesting, but if you’re in love with someone with the same birth order, don’t dump them. There are always beautiful exceptions to some rules.