There are many people out there who will tell you that the order in which you are born does not reflect any type of personal trait or the personality of a person. This argument can go in either direction however if you know the facts, you are able to make your own qualified decision.
One thing that shows up in children who have older and younger siblings is the lack of self-esteem. Some middle children have a level of confidence that is ideal which is why the theory is just that, a theory. Also, a middle child is known to lack other factors that older siblings or younger siblings have such as coping techniques. A middle child will also crave attention from others because they lacked some type of attention during their years of growing up.
A child who grew up with siblings older and younger also is more prone to becoming problem children or adults later on in life. If the child was forced to become rebellious in their early life due to the lack of attention, they grow up thinking that this type of behavior is rewarding therefore will continue on with their bad behavior. They still crave the attention and therefore will act out in order to obtain the attention they believe they deserve.
Most children who are middle children also will appear to be shy. The child or adult became shy because they felt as if they were looked over as children. Most people will look at this trait as being superficial however it is simply that the child or individual felt this need and blocked away the attention. Some people will also argue that this is due to the fact that they lack self-esteem and self-confidence.
Can Someone Overcome Middle Child Syndrome?
The middle child syndrome is able to be overcame if the right therapies are used and if the child is given the attention they crave. If you start to notice in your children that they are acting out and seeking your attention, remember that bad attention is still attention. Turn to the resources you come across to determine how you are to go about approaching them without making matters worse.
Remember that what you are unable to teach in childhood is often not obtained in adulthood either. It is best to start teaching the child early on since their brains are like sponges at an early age.