ABSTRACT
The goal of this research paper is to describe how
being a middle child can influence college aged
individual’s careers.
Janet Mingo
INT 470
MIDDLE CHILD
SYNDROME
Theory Paper
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Mingo Theory Paper
The goal of this current research proposal or question is to find out “How does being a
middle child influence college age individual’s careers?” Middle child syndrome is typically
known as an emotional scarring condition in which middle children feel excluded. This effect
occurs because the first child is more prone to receive privileges and responsibilities (by virtue of
being the oldest), while the youngest in the family is generally considered the "baby". This tends
to make the middle child feel neglected, misunderstood or unheard. After being the middle child
of 5 for exactly 22 years, and experiencing some forms of neglect. I felt that it is vital to dig
deeper into this area of research.
This research is important, because middle children like myself tend to be viewed as
“victimized”, but individuals rarely view the positive attributes of a middle child; or the strengths
that a middle child develops through loneliness. And being that there is very little findings of
how middle child syndrome affects an individual career wise. This is very important so that
middle children, may learn to seek the positivity in their placement in life. As well as to promote
other individuals to stop looking at middle children in a demoting manner, however in the aspect
that they bring an immense amount of added value to the table. In which they are not afraid to
work alone, they do not always seek approval, and being that they strive for greatness, whether it
is self-approval, or approval of a boss or co-worker.
In another aspect this research can make a new aspect or approach for individuals who have
middle siblings, or parents. This could be a gateway for middle children to have an outlet, and
reduce suicide rates for middle children. As well as this research can raise awareness to middle
children of how to channel their energy towards enhancing their career. Parents may also learn
how to give middle children some responsibilities or duties with-in the household so that the
child does not feel neglected. This research will benefit everyone, children, parents, employers,
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co-workers. The entire environment around the individual labeled as a “middle child”. I believe
this would individuals to have a solid foundation of identity in college to voice their opinions.
While conducting research, I was able to prepare four interview questions for eight
individuals. In which two were African American, two Caucasian, two Asian American, and two
were Korean. The questions were as followed: 1. growing up as a middle child did you feel
alone? If so do you believe that that experience prepared you for working tasks alone? Six of the
eight individuals believed that this experience helps them get things done, and that they prefer to
work alone. 2. Do you believe you are more reliable because you are a middle child? Four
individuals believe they are more reliable, because they do not want others to feel neglected,
while 2 more individuals do not believe that their birth stance does not play a role on their
reliability. The third question is Do you believe that you are able to adapt better because you are
a middle child? The responses were split equally in half for this question. Last but not least the
final question was In which ways do you believe being a middle child has effected your career
during college?
Also there were many resources that I used to complete this research, however sources
that really helped mold this paper together would be Journals: The Secret Powers of Middle
Children Oct 18, 2012 Lynne Griffin R.N., M.Ed In which Griffin really helped me to debunk
the myths of being a middle child. Griffin helped me to remove my own emotions during this
research, and presenting the opportunity to simply research without a biased opinion. “The
Peckling Order” by Caroline O'Shea, 2004 allowed me to view the dynamic order of a household
as well as the topics that promoted this research.
Research shows being a middle child can have an influence on personality and attitude
toward family, career, and relationships. Furthermore, middle children are typically left more to
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their own devices, but that doesn't equate to a disorder, but regular factors that will either
enhance the child, or destroy the child. And although research some consistent themes appear
however there have been no consistent findings that birth order directly affects an individual’s
preparedness or readiness for professionalism through college This conclusion derives from the
concentration area of psychology
For example Salmon Avera states a sociologist states "It is pretty clear, I think, that they get
less attention and investment from their parents," she says. "Now, whether or not that causes a
problem is a bigger question."(Middle-Child Syndrome: Am I Your Favorite, Mom?2008)
Within her research, the main purpose explained that middle children have a harder time
interacting with people, especially during high school and college. There is no concrete evidence
on these finding, but it could be understood as true and could potentially lower the chances of an
individual excelling in a career due to their lack of communication skills.
Another Sociologist Dalton Coley believes that every two siblings, on average, are only 25%
closer together in income than any two random people would be, Conley explains "weights the
dice you have to roll.” In other words ones socioeconomic class at birth is by no means dictates
of future economic success, an assertion that disagrees with the analysis of many sociologists.
Conley was vary vast to point out, however, that he did not believe that his findings strongly
support the right-wing belief that American society is a broad leveled playing field with equal
opportunity He also stated "not all sibling differences are created equally." Rich families (such as
the Kennedy or Bush families) have far more equality between siblings than poor families do.”
(The Pecking Order: Which Siblings Succeed and Why" 2004) So Conley believes that race,
black siblings have twice as much inequality between them as white siblings do, just because of
the way that they were created.
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According to psychologist Kevin Leman, author of The Birth Order Book: Why You Are the
Way You Are, a middle child is harder to stereotype. Middle children can be second, third,
fourth or any child between the first and the last, but most typically the one that in the middle
whether it is the second of three, the third of face, or the fourth of seven children. From a
psychologist prospective many things may affect the individual such as the environmental factors
that the individual experienced. Such as did the child have an outlet, was the child properly
nurtured or did he or she feel loved?
Research shows being a middle child can have an influence on personality and attitude
toward family, career, and relationships. Furthermore, middle children are typically left more to
their own devices, but that doesn't equate to a disorder, but regular factors that will either
enhance the child, or destroy the child. And although research some consistent themes appear
however there have been no consistent findings that birth order directly affects an individual’s
preparedness or readiness for professionalism through college. Although these are not the
findings that I thought I would find when initially choosing this topic, I still believe that this
topic still needs to be further researched.
The goal of this current research proposal or question is to find out “How does being a
middle child influence college age individual’s careers?” From research, it truly depends on the
individual. However this matter requires an interdisciplinarian approach because everyone is
different, and this could affect people financially like Colten believes, or have social effects like
Salmon believes. There is also the possibility that some individuals simply do not see an impact
on their career from being a middle child.
Recommendations for further expansion on this modern topic would be to have mock
interviews, like those of the Milgram’s Obedience study. In which this study would include
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actual scenarios where people would have to show their attribution traits on the spot. Instead of
having written scenarios. This could be conducted between about 30 college age students of each
ethic group, with at least 10 of each being middle children. This test would allow employers to
see the strengths of a middle child, and see how well middle children are able to adapt. This
would give more than verbal answers, and this study could also bring about new findings about
middle children, or any college aged individual and how it affects their career. Another
recommendation for future research would be to have 7 families from each ethnic group
volunteer for a 25 year period, in which they would have 3 children. However separate the
children in 6 year increments, which would allow each child the opportunity to be the baby.
While making a system that would ensure all children would be treated equally, and would be
allowed to be themselves unapologetically. With both of these examples of further research
display the units of sociology, psychology, and education.
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References
Websites:
Middle Child Syndrome dot Org. (n.d.). Retrieved March 17, 2016, from http://middlechildsyndrome.org/
The Middle Child Syndrome. (2012). Retrieved April 01, 2016, from
http://www.everydayfamily.com/the-middle-child-syndrome
Griffin R.N., M.Ed, L. (2012, October 20). The Secret Powers of Middle Children. Retrieved March 21,
2016, from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/field-guide-families/201210/the-secret-powersmiddle-children
Danish, E. (2010). Middle Child Syndrome. Retrieved March 29, 2016, from
http://www.healthguidance.org/entry/15912/1/Middle-Child-Syndrome.html
Books
Dealing With The Effects Of Middle Child Syndrome
February 18, 2013 Adrian Sawyer
E. E. Kane Middle-Child Syndrome: Am I Your Favorite, Mom?
On Being The Middle Child By E. E. Kane Published March 12, 2008
Sandefur, R. (2005). The Pecking Order: Which Siblings Succeed and Why . By Dalton Conley. New
York, N.Y.: Pantheon, 2004. Pp. 309. $24.00. American Journal of Sociology, 111(2), 619-621. Retrieved
March 20, 2016.
Crow, K., & Catrow, D. (2009). The middle-child blues. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons.